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Photographic 

Sciences 
Corporation 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  NY    14580 

(716)  872-4503 


L<? 


l\ 


CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHM/ICMH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  Microreproductions  Institut  canadien  de  microreproductions  historiques 


1980 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notes/Notes  techniques  et  bibliographiques 


The  Institute  has  attempted  to  obtain  the  best 
original  copy  available  for  filming.  Features  of  this 
copy  which  may  be  bibliographically  unique, 
which  may  alter  any  of  the  images  in  the 
reproduction,  or  which  may  significantly  change 
the  usual  method  of  filming,  are  checked  below. 


L'Institut  a  microfilm6  le  meilleur  exemplaire 
qu'il  lui  a  6X6  possible  de  se  procurer.  Les  details 
de  cet  exemplaire  qui  sont  peut-dtre  uniques  du 
point  de  vue  bibliographique,  qui  peuvent  modifier 
une  image  reproduite,  ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  une 
modification  dans  la  m6thode  normale  de  filmage 
sont  indiqu^s  ci-dessous. 


□    Coloured  covers/ 
Couverture  de  couleur 

□    Covers  dameged/ 
Couverture  endommag^e 

□    Covers  restored  and/or  lamaiated/ 
Couverture  restaurde  et/ou  p'illicul6e 


□    Coloured  pages/ 
Pages  de  couleur 

□    Pages  damaged/ 
Pages  endommag^es 

n    Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Pages  restaur^es  et/ou  pellicul^es 


□    Cover  title  missing/ 
Le  titre  de  couverture  manque 


□    Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 
Pages  d6color6es,  tachetdes  ou  piqu^es 


0 


Coloured  maps/ 

Cartes  g6ographiques  en  couleur 


Pages  detached/ 
Pages  ddtach^es 


Coloured  ink  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  black)/ 
Encre  de  couleur  (i.e.  autre  que  bleue  ou  noire) 


□    Showthrough/ 
Transparence 


D 


Coloured  plates  and/or  illustrations/ 
Planches  et/ou  illustrations  en  couleur 


□    Quality  of  print  varies/ 
Quality  indgale  de  I'impression 


D 


Bound  with  other  material/ 
Reli^  avec  d'autres  documents 


□    Includes  supplementary  material/ 
Comprend  du  materiel  supplementaire 


n 


D 


Tight  binding  may  cause  shadows  or  distortion 
along  interior  margin/ 

La  reliure  serree  peut  causer  de  I'ombre  ou  de  la 
distortion  le  long  de  la  marge  int6rieure 

Blank  leaves  added  during  restoration  may 
appear  within  the  text.  Whenever  possible,  these 
have  been  omitted  from  filming/ 
It  se  peut  que  certaines  pages  blanches  ajout6es 
lors  d'une  restauration  apparaissent  dans  le  texte, 
mais,  lorsque  cela  6tait  possible,  ces  pages  n'ont 
pas  6t6  film^es. 


I — I    Only  edition  available/ 


0 


Seule  Edition  disponible 

Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
slips,  tissues,  etc.,  have  been  refilmed  to 
ensure  the  best  possible  image/ 
Les  pages  totalement  ou  partiellement 
obscurcies  par  un  feuillet  d'errata,  une  pelure, 
etc.,  ont  6t6  film6es  d  nouveau  de  fapon  d 
obtenir  la  meilleure  image  possible. 


D 


Additional  comments:/ 
Commentaires  suppl6mentaires: 


7\ 


This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  film6  au  taux  de  reduction  indiqu6  ci-dessous. 


10X 


14X 


18X 


22X 


7 


X, 


26X 


SOX 


] 


12X 


16X 


20X 


24X 


28X 


32X 


The  copy  filmed  here  has  been  reproduced  thanks 
to  the  generosity  of: 

Library  of  the  Public 
Archives  of  Canada 


L'exemplaire  filmd  fut  reproduit  grdce  d  la 
g6n6rosit6  de: 

La  bibliothdque  des  Archives 
publiques  du  Canada 


The  images  appearing  here  are  the  best  quality 
possible  considering  the  condition  and  legibility 
of  the  original  copy  and  in  keeping  with  the 
filming  contract  specifications. 


Les  images  suivantes  ont  6t6  reproduites  avec  le 
plus  grand  soin,  compte  tenu  de  la  condition  et 
de  la  nettet6  de  l'exemplaire  filmd,  et  en 
conformity  avec  les  conditions  du  contrat  de 
filmage. 


Original  copies  in  printed  paper  covers  are  filmed 
beginning  with  the  front  cover  and  ending  on 
the  last  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, or  the  back  cover  when  appropriate.  All 
other  original  copies  are  filmed  beginning  on  the 
first  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, and  ending  on  the  last  page  with  a  printed 
or  illustrated  impression. 


Les  exemplaires  originaux  dont  la  couverture  en 
papier  est  imprim6e  sont  film^s  en  commenpant 
par  le  premier  plat  et  en  terminant  soit  par  la 
dernidre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration,  soit  par  le  second 
plat,  selon  le  cas.  Tous  les  autres  exemplaires 
originaux  sont  filmds  en  commenpant  par  la 
premidre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration  et  en  terminant  par 
la  dernidre  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  — ♦-  (meaning  "CON- 
TINUED "),  or  the  symbol  V  (meaning  "END  "), 
whichever  applies. 


Un  des  symboles  suivants  appara?tra  sur  la 
dernidre  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  le 
cas:  le  symbole  -^  segnifie  "A  SUIVRE  ",  le 
symbole  V  signifie  "FIN". 


Maps,  plates,  charts,  etc.,  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  are  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  dtre 
filmds  d  des  taux  de  reduction  diffdrents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  etre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  clich6,  il  est  filmd  d  partir 
de  Tangle  supdrieur  gauche,  de  gauche  d  droite, 
et  de  haut  en  bas,  en  pienant  le  nombre 
d'images  ndcessaire.  Le^  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  la  mdthode. 


1 

1 

2 

3 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

>  •  •  • 


•    •  •  • .       ••.?-••       •  • 


•  •  :•.•.•;•• 


•  •• 


'••  •.' 


•  •      • 
•  •  •  • 


•  •  • 


t« 


!l 


ECCLESIASTICAL    HISTORY 


OK 


NEWFOUNDLAND 


r.  V 


THE   VERY   REVEREND   M.   F.    HOWI.EY.  D.D. 


V,  O  S  T  O  N 
i>()MJ:    AM)    Wllliri.l..    l-nu.iSlll-RS  /\ 

I  8  S  8 


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C'dpyri^'Iit.    i'nS7, 

n\    i)<)vi,K   A\i>  w  MirrLii 


Press    of 

Rockwell    and    Cnurchill, 

Boston. 


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DEDICATION 


aHHp 


S\MM()      I'ASIOlil 
()MM\M      l'",CCI.i;SIAl!\M      I'li.Iil'OSITO      I'dNTIl'ICl 

LEONI     XIII. 

J,iri:i!Ai!\M    ('\M\  s(\  N(jvi;    oi-.nkims    I'Avroiii    Mvmiukxtissimo 

,I\itii..i:\M    SAii.iiixnAi.i;    oitiii;    ri.A\  Di'.Nir.    ('Arriioi.ico 

II. .(     Anno    MDCCCLXXXVIl 

A(ii;\ii 

Inti'.u    tot.    DiscuM.iN.i:,    S.  iknti.i:,    Kklkuoms 

Sl'I.I'.NKIlHSSIMA      ri(i\()l!A 
All     (>.MXI1»\S     .M\NI>I      ri.Aiiis     OKI.AIA      H.\ltJ\\M      11\  NC     I.IIti;i.l.\M 

Axcroit 

A\s\'s    r.si'    ii\-\m.i.i.Mi".    oiiTciiiii-; 

Ori.iMs    i)i;ii;cns 

C^VOS      I'I.AM;      AliNOVI'.KAT. 

CdUKis    AiiKciN  :     A\nii(}\i:    ()ltsI;<;^I(> 
()c(_vi!i!i:itK    DisivriKNS. 


1*^ 


•UPtmsfimmmm?^- 


I  N  VOC  AZI  O  N  E. 


— <K>J«iO 


A   LEONE   XIII.,  P.M. 

RISTORATORE    IXDEFESSO    DF.LLA    FILOSOFIA    K    TEOLOIUA 

CRIST  I  AS  A. 


oXXo 


Tr  I   (III-,   sii.    riioNo   Assiso   si;i,    in    I'lcuo, 
Noun,.    ijAMi'oi.i.o    Di'.i,    DK'l'KCCI    sir.MMA 
l)i',(i\()    d'ohnah   \\.    riiin.o    diadkaia  :  — 

Di   (11    i,'a\ha   sritAi.i;   a   liAdciio   Amikuu 

HlMI.I.A  (XiXOI!  NKI.  SIO  AZZri!  SKMIKIM).  — 
('ill':  SCINlll.l.ANDK.  (JIAI.  l.lCl'.NTi:  (ilCMMA 
iNDOliA     'I.    Cl.IIHO     AliilSTO,'  —  Alio     KM  lil.KM  A 

1)1   Lii   (111;   Ai.    ir.iiio    KiMtoit   sakX   (ii  r.ifiaKifoI 


3:^> 


■  LrMK   xrA'iKi,',"   dai,   Santo   Iki.andf.sk' 

Nk'    TKMl'I    OR     lliASCOliSl,     I'KOMNZIArc) 

In    si     ha   im'nna.    i'ai.'si   .s\  (iLA/ZAiii'- 
I/ANiiin-ico    DdiToi!.    CON    i."ai.k   r.si'Ksi;. — 
La    \(t(i'.   rAi!>i    rnii!    Di.i.    AQlINA'l'O 

1)1     Nl(>\()    II-     M(JM)0    INIIKliO     CAl  lI\"Al!i;I 


M.    F.    II. 


1.(1  Stcmiiui  ili'l  lVci:i. 


ti.  M:il;>chiii. 


I  N  VOCATI  O  N. 


0»{O 


TO  LEO   XIII.,   P.M. 

IXDEFATIGAliLE    RESTORER     OF    CURISTlAy    PHILOSOPHY 

AND    TIIEOLOa  y. 


o>»;o 


IIaII.    Tliorl       ON     ri-.TKlt's    ("IIAIll    KXTIIIK)XKI)     roi'K, 

Tiioi     Noiti.i;   Scion   ok   tiik    I'KCCI    sir.jil 

WolMIlY    TO     (iHAl'i;    TIIK    TitllM.K    DiADK.M.  — 
TllOf     Wllosr.     AXCKSTIIAI,     StaK,     with     KAY     ok     UOI'K. 
(il.KAMS     ItlMdllT    WITHIN     ITS     AZKliK     IIOltoSCOIM;  : 

Sl'AlilvI.INO     Willi     SIM.I.NDOI!     OK     I'l.M.rciD     (iKM. 

I'lNlS    nil:     lAI.I.    (IDAI!     Willi     A     (iOI.DKN     IIKM,' 
E.MHl.KM     OK     IIIM     WlIU     WITH     1>AI!K     iSlN    MLIST    C  <  >1'K. 


oj*:o 


Tiior   AIM     iiiK    \  i-.i;v    ••Li(iiir   kkom    IIkavkn '"   ok   V(ti!K. 

MV     1;I!1N's    SaINII.D     .MaI.ACIIV     K(H!K.I't»I.I), 

Kol!     OKI!     THY     IIAI.OKI)     l»l!OW     WITH     WINllS     t  NKIIM-KD 

Till'.   •■  ANiii'.i,   OK    Till'.   Schools"   is   skk.n    r<)  soai; 

TllMMNC      IlIY     IM.N     Willi     1!AY     OK     MOI.IKX    IIOI.I),  — 

OXCK    MOKK     AQl'INAS'     \  OK  K     I N  1  II 1!  AI.I.x     TIIK     WolJI.I)  ! 

M.    F.    II. 


'  Tilt'  AiiiiH  cif   Ihi'  I'l'i'oi  fill  lilv. 


i 


PREFACE. 


ALTIIOUGir  it  is  hut  littlv  ovcm- a  yoiir  sinco  the  first 
"  stroke  of  the  ]K'n  "  wjis  put  to  tiie  composition  of 
this  work,  still  I  may  say,  with  some  truth,  that  it  has  been 
in  course  of  compilation  for  over  a  (|uartcr  of  a  century. 
Ever  since  the  happy  days  of  school-hoy  life  I  have  Ix^en 
always  on  the  alert  to  gather  material.  It  may  he  called  a 
"hohhy";  it  may  ho  called  a  "craze"  or  a  "crank";  it 
was  certainly  an  ahsorhinj;  jiassiou  to  gras|)  with  avidity 
everything  in  any  way  hearing  upon  the  past  history 
of  our  country  ;  every  anecdote  of  the  olden  time  ;  every 
scrap  of  manuscri})t ;  every  inscription  or  epitaph  iiaving 
the  slightest  pretension  to  anti(|uity ;  evi^r}'  vestige  of 
the  former  occupation  of  Newfoundland,  whether  civil, 
military,  or  ecclesiastical,  —  in  a  word,  everything 
with  the  shadow  of  a  claim  to  arclueological  distinction 
was  immediately  transferred  to  the  note-hook  or  sketch- 
hook,  with  a  view  to  heing  at  some  future  day  pre- 
sented to  the  puhlic.  Hence,  it  may  he  imagined  that, 
when  at  last  the  momentous  step  Avas  actually  resolved  upon 
to  "  make  a  l)c<>innini:","  I  was  confronted  with  that  serious 
dillicuUy  so  elegantly  dclined  hy  our  French  writers  as 
"Am  emharrassnient  of  wealth."  Though  knowing  that  I  was 
deficient  in  a  great  (h-al  of  documentary  lore  which  I  would 
wish  to  ohtain,  yet  I  was  conscious  ol"  j)ossessing  a  con- 
sidcral)le  amount  of  information,  hiuhlv  intere 


■a' 


heterogeneous  a  nature  as  to  defy  any  effort  at  putting  it 


I 


>1 


8 


riJKFACE. 


toijolhor  ill  :i  conncctiHl  fonii.  I  was  thus  bewildorcd  as  to 
what  I  slioukl  rcprochn'o,  what  ivjcct. 

I  at  lirst  attonii)ti'(l  to  \n'\n<x  in  a  liTcat  deal  of  tliis,  what 
]  may  call  extrinsic  intbrinalioii,  l)_v  way  of  appendix  or 
notes:  hut  I  soon  found  that  the  notes  would  exceed  the 
l)()dy  of  the  work.  Tiiis  1  knew  would  l)e  a  defiance  of 
all  just  rules  of  proportion,  so  I  was  oolii^-ed  to  invent  soiiu' 
means  of  incorporatinu"  it  into  the  hook.  That  I  have  not 
always  succeeded  in  makinii"  smooth  work  I  am  fully  con- 
scious, and  can  only  throw  myscdf  on  the  nu'rcy  of  the 
indulgent   reach'r. 

Another  very  u'leat  diHicully  which  confronted  me  was, 
that  my  material  naturally  divided  itsell'  into  two  classes,  of  so 
totally  dill'ere  >t  a  <liaracter  that  I  at  first  llioii<rht  it  would 
he  hetter  to  make  two  distinct  hooks.  The  lirst  class  of 
items  contained  those  concerniniz'  the  irencral  (>arly  history 
of  America,  "  qiionnu  jiHir/na  pars  /hU"  Xowfoundland, 
and  on  which  I  felt  sure  1  had  sonu!  facts,  th(>ories,  docu- 
ments, maps,  etc.,  never  yet  puhlished,  wliicl-i  would  he 
interestiiii:"  to  the  ijjeneral  reader,  not  only  in  Xewfound- 
land,   hilt   in  America  and   iMirope. 

The  second  class  consisted  of  pureh/  /oail,  almost  house- 
hold, facts,  anecdotes,  inci<h'nts.  (h'scriptions,  etc.,  which 
could  he  interesliiiii'  only  to  Xew  .oundlanders,  and  even  to 
only  a  section  of  them,  vi/.,   the  l^inian  Catholics. 

To  separate  the  work  into  two  hooks  would,  1  saw, 
mutilate  each,  and  render  them  imperfei't  ;  to  unite  <heni  I 
feai'cd  would  render  the  hook  tedious  and  uiiacc(^|)tahl(!  to 
many.  In  this  dilemma  I  was  advised  by  a  valued  and 
experienced  friend  to  |)ut  them  toii'i'ther,  and  let  them  sink 
or  swim  on  their  merits.  Thus,  on  this  score,  apiin  I  feel 
it  necessary  to  crave  the  reader's  forhearance. 


» 


rilEFACE. 


9 


When  ahoutto  coininence  the  work  1  fortmiiitely  ciimo  into 
possession  of  an  unfinished  nianuseript  Eeelesiastical  History 
of  Newfoiuidland,  by  tiie  Rt.  Ilev.  Dr.  Mulh)e]<:.  Tliis 
liist('iy  was  never  published,  though  tiie  well-known  "Lect- 
ures (,n  Xewfoundland,"  delivcn-ed  in  St.  Bonaventure's 
College,  and  published  in  pamphlet,  were  eoini)iled  from  it. 
I  at  first  intended  to  use  this  manuscript  as  a  basis  on  which  to 
l)uild  my  sui)erstructure,  takin<r  it  parajxrajjh  by  parauraph, 
and  introduciuii',  Ji^  T  went  along,  my  own  notes  between 
i»raekets.  Hut  so  nnich  historical  information  has  come  to 
liiiht  since  Dr.  Mullock  wrote  (now  nearly  thirty  years  ago, 
18o()),  that  I  found  it  (piite  ini[)ractieablc,  as  it  would  })ro- 
duce  a  disjointi'd  and  diseomiected  narrative,  and  occasion 
many  useless  repetitions.  I,  therefore,  determined  to  draw 
ui)ou  the  aI)ove  manuscript  whenever  necessary,  as  a  rule 
makiuij:  acknowledgment  of  it. 

For  the  history  of  Ferryland  I  am  greatly  indebted  to  the 
Avork  of  Henry  Kirke,  Es(|.,  High  Shcritl"  of  Dcmerara,  on 
the  "C'on(|uest  of  Canada."  1  regret,  therefore,  on  some 
occasions  luung  obliged  to  refute  rather  warndy  some  of  that 
irentlcman's  assertions.  Ilenrv  Kirke  is  a  desceiulant  of  Sir 
David  Kirke,  who  occupied  Ferryland  after  Lord  FjaUimore, 
and  dicil  there.  Also  to  Mr.  Kichardson,  of  I'ortland, 
Mc.,  U.S.,  for  a  most  interesting  article  on  Ferryland,  in 
the  "Magazine  of  American  History." 

For  the  description  of  IMacentia,  by  Abbe  Pjaudouin,  I 
owe  my  thanks  to  J.  P.  Howley,  Es(|.,  ]'\(J.S.,  Superintend- 
ent of  th(^  Geological  SurvcA'  of  Newfoundland,  and  to  Mr. 
Jack,  of  St.  John,  N.P.,  who  coi)ied  the  original  French 
document  from  the  archives  of  Ottawa. 

1  nuist  also  express  my  gratitude  to  T.  O'lieilly,  Fs(|.,  J.P., 
of  Placentia,  for  many  imi)ortant  items  coucerniug  the 
"Ancient  Capital." 


10 


I'UKFACE. 


I  ackiiowiodgo,  with  many  thanks,  the  rocoption  of  an 
Utitograph  letter  of  our  tirst  liishop,  Dr.  O'Donel,  as  well  as 
interesting  particulars  of  the  last  days  and  tinal  reslinir-place 
of  that  venerable  Prelate,  from  his  jrrand-nephew,  the  Kev. 
Mr.  O'Donnell,  of  IIarrow<;atc,  Knj^iand. 

To  Mr.  Justice  Joseph  I.  Little  my  irralitude  is  due  for  a 
large  and  most  interesting  i)ackage  of  letters  of  llie  late 
Rt.  Kev.  Dr.  Fleming;  also  to  the  late  Mrs.  J.  Delaney, 
sister  of  Father  Troy,  for  letters  from  Dr.  Fleming  to  that 
reverend  gentleman. 

From  the  Kevs.  N.  Roache  and  M.  O.  Driscoll,  of  AVhittles 
Bay,  I  received  an  invaluable  collection  of  notes  from  the 
memori(>s  of  the  late  Dean  Cleary. 

It  will  be  observed  that  the  l)ook  reaches  down  only  to 
the  year  1850,  and  closes  with  the  death  of  the  Rt,  Rev. 
Dr.  Fleming.  My  reasons  for  not  including  the  episcopatt; 
of  Dr.  Mullock  are  principally  the  following  :  — 


F'irsf.  I  t"ear  the  book  will  l»e  already  ratiier  too  l)ulky 
to  be  convenient. 

Secondli/.  IJeing  anxious  to  bring  out  lh«'  work  by  the 
close  of  the  j)resent  year,  so  as  to  make  it  a  jubilei*  otl'ering 
to  our  Holy  Father,  Leo  XIII..  I  could  not  possibly  do  so 
were  I  to  include  these  twenty  years  of  our  history. 

T/iinU'/.  I  think  it  would  bi>  unworthy  of  the  glorious 
Fpiscopate  of  Dr.  Mullock  to  tack  it  on,  as  it  were,  to  the  end 
of  a  book  already  sutlicienlly  lai'ge,  even  were  I  in  a  jxjsition 
to  do  so,  which  I  am  not  ;  and  this  may  be  given  as  — 

Foiifthh/.  Tliough  possessing  a  large  numl)er  of  letters, 
documents,  pastorals,  ])rinted  addresses,  and  lectures  of  Dr. 
Mullock,  I  still  feel  that  I  am  very  far  from  having  sutlicient 
material  for  a  biography  of  that  illustrious  Pielate.  If  the 
present  work  should  prove  acceptabU-,  and  if  the  necessary 


I 

I 

1 


; 


PHEFACE. 


11 


dociunonts  can  l,e  procuro.l,  nolliing  wct.l.l  give.  „„>  .neater 
pleasure  tl.an  to  eompil.  a  "Lifo  and  Times  of  Dr.  MuHock  " 
^^  .tl.  these  rcMnarks,  which  n.ay  be  taken  as  an  apolocry 
from  a  neophyte  in  the  art  of  hook-making,.  I  send  forfh 
this  maiden  etlbrt  upon  the  ocvan  of  historical  literature 

I  have  nothino-  to  say  of  the  workn.anship  of  Messrs. 
Doyle  and  Whittl,. ;  it  is  there  to  speak  for  itself.  I  ,  ^od 
only  say  that  in  all  business  relations  they  have  proved  them- 
se.ves  most  obliiri„g  and  satisfaetory. 

M.  F.  iiov;ley. 


Sandv  Point,  St.  (Jkoik.k's   I!av, 

Wkst  Nkwfoindi.an:), 
The  Fi-ast  of  St.  Mirliad,  Sept-mLor  a..  1SS7. 


J 


*$> 


C  O  N  T  E  N  1^  S . 


II) 


CIIAITKH    1. 

INTRODUCTOKY. 

I'AliE 

Spirit  of  Gooirraiiliical  Hcscarcli  Aroused  in  tiic  Fil'tcciitli  reiitiiry  — 
TlieArt  of  I'l'iiitiiiii  liixonlcd  by  a  (icniian  Calliullc  —  rnlair 
Criticisins  ol"  I'rotcslaiil  Wrilfis  — 'riic  rolviilni  Print iiiii  (  HIlci! 
of  I'l'opa.iianila  —  'I'iir  I'lipcs  tlir  Ijicnnraiicrs  of  Science  anil  Dis- 
covery—  'I'lieir  (ireal  {'olilical  I'ower — Character  of  Colnnibns 
—  His  Desire  for  (iold  I'",x|)lained  —  Missionary  Si)ii'il  of  tiie 
Karly  .\a\  iirators  —  (iiain plain  —  His  IJeli^rions  Sentiment  —  I'ei'e 
Le  ('ler(|.  O.S.K. — Capt-'i"  I!i<'liard  Wliithonrnt — His  I^ntlui- 
siasni  for  Newfoinidland  —  His  Anxiety  for  the  Conversion  of 
the  Ivcd  Indians  —  Tile  Instltntion  of  the  •■  Proparjainln  Fide" — • 
Contrast  between  the  above-mentioned  N'oyayers  and  Sir  Hiiin- 
plirey  CJilbert 23 


(ilAPTKR    II. 

rRE-Col.r.MlUAN    \'()VA(ii:s.—  [SOO- 111)7.] 

Ti'Uditions  of  a  Western  Land  —  I'rophecy  of  Seneca  —  Senecii  and 
Colnuibns,  a  Coincidence — I'lato's  ••  .Mlantis  " — X'oyaict'  of  St. 
Urendan  —  St.  .Malo  —  Catholic  Missions  in  Iceland  —  'I'he  Flato 
Sana.  .V.l).  SiK) — Discovery  of  (ireenland  by  (inniba'rn.  ssi; — . 
Uediscovery  by  l'",ric  UiUid.  '.iso — Discovery  of  .\merica  by 
l$jarni.  lis.")  —  I.abi-ador,  Newfoinidland,  Nova  Scotia,  Discovered 
l)y  Lief.  KiiMi— It  Myla,  or  (Jreat  Ireland  —  A'cstia-es  of  an  Irish 
Colony  in  .Vnierica — I'.piscopal  Sees  in  (ireenland.  loiM  to  1  loi;  — 
Voyaice    of     /elio,     l.'iso — Keliques    of    John     (itiy's    Colony    at 


Cliper's  Ci^ve.  or  Ciipid': 


( ii.vri'Kii  III. 

COLU.MIiUS    -VNK    \\\>    I'ol.l.l  lUi:!!.-^.  —  [1  li)7   l.'i:!!.] 

Discovery  of  Newfoundland  by  Cabot-  (abot's  Map  Shown  to  be 
Tampered  with  —  The  N;iiiie  Ildcculno — lielic  id'  I'.arly  .\nsslon- 
ary  —  Corlereal — Map  of  N'arrese  from  the  \'aticaii  —  St.  .lohn's 


IJeconies  Important.  1." 


Tile  Aboiiu'ine- 


Their  Name.  I>eo- 


tlnicU- —  Knthlessly  Shot  down  —  Their  (  ha  racier,  lieliirion.  etc.  — 


14 


roxTKN  rs. 


Kiuiv  Maps  of  llif  Cniiiitry —  Map  of  JiTdinc  N'ci'az/.aiio,  !o2S  — 
or  IJihtro,  l.v.'ii  —  Ancit'iit  Map  in  Moriiian  Musciiiii.  I'ropuiramla 
—  ••  I)i\i(liiii;  Line"  (liawn  l)\  rope  Ali'xandiT  \'l..  ir.t;5  .       47 


CIIAI'IHW     IV. 

.i.\((jUKs  CAiiTiKii.—  []ri;!i-ir.ii.] 

Ncfrli'i't  ol  (oloiiics  \)\  Knjjlaiid  — Henry  lui'kc  licriili'd  —  Catnolic 
Countrii's  ICiicoiiraKc  Coloiii/.ation — .Iac(im's  (.'artiur's  N'oyajres, 
l.");U-;i.">-- A.rivcs  at  Calaliiia  —  First  Mass  in  NcwfomullaiHl  — 
Calliolic  Missions  in  America  —  'i'estiniony  of  Hancroft  — ('artier 
Enters  tlie  Straits  of  Helle  Isle  and  Explores  the  St.  Lawrence  — 
Old  Fort  —  Anticosli,  Hay  Clialenr  —  Sajineiiay,  (inel)t'c,  etc. — 
BettU'nu'nt  l)y  John  (iny  in  Conceptiiin  Hay  ....       (17 


i 


CIIAITKU    V. 

JOHN  c;uY's  skttlkmkxt.— [Kiio-uius.] 

Failnro  of  .lolin  (iny's  ("olony  —  Intercomse  with  lied  Indians  — 
Cruel  Treatinent  of  them  by  F.niilisli  Sailors  —  Dillicidties 
lietwcen  Planters  and  I^'ishenuen  —  Wliithonrne  Arri\es  as  Com- 
missioner, 1(!I"> — .lolni  (iny  Aliandons  his  Colony  and  Keturns 
to  Kniiiand  —  \\'irnl)onrne  Sent  out  l)y  Dr.  X'autrhan  to  P'ouinl  a 
Colonv  at  F'errvland.  lilj.s  —  Calvert's  N'iews  on  Colonization 


>ik 


7X 


CI  I A  IT  KK    VI. 

FKUI!VI..\NI).^     [l(ilS-l(',i>L>.] 

Sir  Cteorite  Calvert  — Ills  Karly  Career — Bancroft's  15i;rotry  —  Cal- 
vert's ('oiiversi(m  —  His  I'.ntimsin'-ni  —  ••  .V  IJaltimore  Penny"  — 
Colony  of  .Maryland  —  Lord  Maltimore's  Spirit  of  Toleration  — 
Pt'iseculion  of   Popery   hy   the   Protest;uil    Parliament.    l(i,")4 


,s;{ 


C'JlAl'l'KW    \II. 

ForxnATION    OF    Fi:i!l!VI..\M).  -  [l(l'_>2-ir)'J,S.] 

Foundation  ol'  l^'erryland  Colony  —  Lord  lialtiniore's  Patent — Its 
KxlenI  — Edward  Wynne.  I''irst  (io\crnor — .Meaniniiof  the  Name 
'•  Fcri'yland  "  -  -  Description  of  Settlement  from  Captain  Powell  — 
Sir  .Vrihur  .V'^iiton  .\rri\cs.  May.  l(li.'7  —  EoihI  l>;dtimori'  .Vrrives  in 
F'erryland.  .luly  L':'..  li;'_'7 — HriMjfs  out  .lesnil  Priesl>  —  Catholic 
Keliuiiin  I'.-.lal)lislied  —  Mass  Cctchrated  Daily — Indiitnation  of 
the  .Vnirliean  Ministi'r.  I{ev.  Mr.  Slourton — His  Expulsion  from 
the  Colony  —  Calxerl  .\rrives.  Second  Time,  with  his  Lady  and 
Familv.  KI'.'s  


^3 


!t4 


, 


•CONTKNTS.  16 


CIIAPTKH    VIII. 

FKHHYLANI),   CuiitiiiKKl.—  [I(t'>S-l(;(!0.] 

PAIiR 

Causes  (»1"  llic  Failure  of  tlie  Ferrv' ■  id  Colony  —  Lady  IJaltiuiore 
Leaves  for  Maryland —  Lord  ISaltiniore  Follows,  lii'J'.i —  Lady  Malti- 
uiore  Lost  at  Sea  —  IJaltimore  IJefuses  to  Take  the  Oatli  of  AUe- 
giiiiice  as  Proposed  ljy  (io\<'riior  I'ott  of  .laiuestowii  —  lie  Ketiirns 
to  Knjjiaud  and  Dies,  lii;{2  —  Sir  \\ .  Alexander  Founds  N'ova 
Scotia,  Hl'i"  —  French  Ilui^iienots — Claude  iV-  St.  Ktiemie  —  Sir 
David  l\irk( — He  Captures  Hie  French  Fleet  al  (iaspe  —  (^iiehcc 
Capitulates.  KiL'li  —  Kirke  is  Hefused  his  I'ri/e-iiioney  —  Kirkeaiid 
Haltiinore  Contrasted  —  Kirke  I{ecei\i's  a<iraiit  of  I'erryland.  and 
.Vrrives  in  Newfoundland.  Kills  —  L'econstrui'ts  the  Seltlcineiit 
—  Tlie  Seven  Years'  War  in  Hn,i:;laiid —  Kirke  is  Arrested,  IC'il  — 
.Vnd  Deprived  of  his  Colony  —  Me  Keinriis  to  Newfoundland, 
l(ir>:!  — And  Dies  at  Fcrrylaiid,  n;.')i;— His  Ciiaraeter — Cecil, 
.Second  Lord  Maitiniore.  Keeovers  Possession  of  l''errylaiid.  liJtid  — 
I'olicv  of  liritain  Detrimental  to  tlie  .Vdvani'eineiit  of  llieCouiUrv.     Hil> 


ciiArri:i{  ix. 


MISSIONAl  IF..S    1\   CAN.VDA. 


[i(;i()-i()7().. 


I'lacciilia — Description  of  Seltleniciii  l)y  Di-.  Mnilnck  —  Fonnded  hy 
the  French  loliii  before  KICO  —  Docniiient  Siiiiied  liy  Louis  XI  \'.  — 
.Moiiscii::nciir  de  Laval.  First  Bishop  of  (Quebec  —  .Mi;r.  ^U'  .St. 
X'allier.  Second  liisiiop — Defence  of  the  .Icsnits  —  Sctlleiiieiit  id' 
I'ort  lioyal.  l(!ll-l.">  —  Arri\al  of  the  I'ranciscjins  at  (iueliec,  li;i.". 
— -.Missionary  Laliors  of  IVre  le  Caroii  anionn'  tlie  Indians  — 
Henri.  Due  de  Levis,  hitroduces  the  Jesuits  to  (^ueliec.  l(!2(i  — 
Jesuits  conlially  Ueeeived  hy  the  Franciscans — Henry  Kirke's 
Stateiiient  to  the  Contrary  Kefuted  —  lieliirioiis  Withdrawn  on 
Captuii'  of  (^ncl)ec  by  Sir  David  Kirke.  1(>21>  —  Jesuits  K'eturn 
jifter  Trcatx  of  St.  ( ierniaiii-cn-Lave.  l(;;'>i'  —  l''ranciscaiis  in  IflTn. 


12.S 


;ii.\!'ii:i{   \. 


i'i.A(  i:niia.-    [iiifio-Kino.] 

I'^xtent  of  the  Dioceseof  (Quebec  -  Mirr.  de  St.  Vallicr  A'isiis  I'laceiitia, 
Kis'.l.  and  l^'ouiuisa  Franciscan  Com  cut  tliere  —  rroiil)lcd  Stale  of 
Newfoundland — Kncroaclinicnls  of  liie  French  —  Olistruction 
Policy  of  Fniiland  —  Placentia  .Utacked  iiiiMicce^sfully  by  Coni- 
niodore  Williams  —  St.  John's  .\ttaeked  l)y  the  French,  liliil 
—  'riu;  Whole  Island,  except  ( 'arlionniere  and  IJonavista.  Captured 
by  D'lber\  ille.  KiDil  —  (irapliic  .\ccount  of  this  Ivxpedition  by  Sieiir 
Uaudouin.  Military  Chaplain  —  Capture  of  Ferryhmd.  Hay  Hulls, 


16 


CONTENTS. 


') 


PAOK 


Ti'lty  IIar))()r,  St.  .lolm's,  Torlmy,  Kt'iivull,  ''ortujtal  Cove, 
llarhor  Men.  Hrii;:!!!',  CarlioiiniiTc.  Ili'vrcdi' (iracc.  IIa\  rt' ('onti-iit, 
15ay  ViT.  Moil  IV'iiican.  t'Ic. —  I'inal  Di'cadciU'o  of  Fri'iicli  Power 
In  the  Wo.stL'ni  World 141 


'»,.! 


CII.VPrKK    XI. 

CATHOLICITY  AFTER   TliH   TIM'-AIY   OF   FTREC TIT.— [1090-1728.] 

Treaty  of  rireeht.  171."> — Conditions,  FrciM-li  all(Mved  to  Dcjiart  or 
beeoiiie  Hritisli  Snl)je(Is  —  Catliolie  [{eiiirion  ])iil)licly  Practised  in 
Newfoundland — The  Fishini;  Admirals  —  (.)p|)osition  of  the  Mer- 
ehants  to  tlic  A|i|)i)iiinncnt  of  a  (iovernor-- Appointment  of  the 
First  (Jovei'nor,  Captain  Henry  Osborne,  17L*8        ....     I(i3 


CIIAPTKR    XII. 

ltKl>I(;i()US  rERSKC'UTlON.— [17J.S-17('.l>.] 

Governor  ()sl)orne  —  Hostile  .Vttitnde  nf  the  Merchants  towards  tiie 
Proi^ress  of  the  Connlry  —  I'erseculini;  Fnaetments  of  the  (io\- 
ernors  —  (;.>vein(;r  Dorrii  il7."i."i)  Persecutes  the  Catiioiics  — 
Conllscations  and  Fines  at  Ilarlior  Main — Caiitnre  of  the  Island 
hy  tile  Frenili.  17(;l' — Final  l>ecai)tnre  by  tiie  Fnt;lish  . 


•r* 


CIIAP'IM-:!?    XIII. 

KFLl(;i()i:s   PF1!SF.(T'TI()X,   CoiifiiiiitiL— [I7(;:i-\7i^i.] 

Treaty  of  Paris,  17ii:'. —  Its  Disastrous  I",ll'cci  on  l''rance  —  Persecution 
of  tlie  Catholic",  inidcr  (ioxernors  Palliser,  .Shnldliam.  Dull', 
and  iMlwards — First  Irish  .Missionaries  —  Hev.  I'atliers  Cain. 
LoiieriLan.  Dalh.  liourl'ic.  Wliflan,  Ili'ani.  and  .\.  Ck'arv 


(II.M'I'KIJ     XIV. 

III".   IU:\.    DK.   0T10XE1.,   I'liKIF.i   T   APOSTOLIC— [1784-1704.] 

Appointment  of  I'atiu"-  O'Donel.  I'irsi  Prefect  Apostolic  —  State  of 
the  Conntry — Uioaraph.\  of  Fatlier  O'Donel — Foundation  of 
"The  Old  Cha|)el  " — Persecution  not  yet  Ceased  —  Uiu'oted  Con- 
duct of  Surroaate  Captain  I'ellu —  I'.xtraoiMlinary  letter  of  (iovern- 
or .Millianlvc  —  Father  O'DoncTs  Letters  to  Dr.  Troy,  Arclil)ishop 
of  l)ul)lin  —  Friendly  .Vction  of  <;o\ernor  Waldeirrave  and  .Indue 
Advocate  Keeves  —  (ireal  lulluence  Aci|nired  l)y  the  Hishop  —  He 
tinells  a  -Mutiny  anions:  Hie  Military  —  licastly  Character  of 
I'riiice  William.  Duke  of  Cl.irenct —  He  .\ssaults  the  Bishop 


IS.- 


J- 


,! 


r 


« 


CONTENTS. 


(IIAITKH    XV. 

li'i.  ifKV.  i)i:.  (fDoNi'i,,  riHST  msnoi'.— [1791-1801.] 

I'A(iK 

Mt'iiiorial  t»f  the  CliT^v  loliiivc  Fatlicr  ( ('Doiiel  made  IMsliop — lie  i> 
.\pp()lnt('(l  X'icar  Apostolic,  and  ( 'onsccrali'd  IMsliop  at  liiu'lx'c  — 
1,1'ltcr  III"  Kallicr  Yon-  —  Address  of  I  lie  Mcrclianis  and  Cilizciis  of 
SI.  .luliii's  to  Dr.  (I'Doiicl  —  111'  \'i>ils  I'laccniia  and  Administers 
Conllnimtion  —  Diocosau  Statiiti's  —  Lovalty  of  tiu- Catliolies     .     I'.MI 


cHArrKii  XVI. 

RT.   HKV.   1)1!.   O'DONEL,   Con/hno,'.- [\m\-\H{)r,.] 

Estal)lis]nui'nt  of  rarislics  and  Districts  —  State  of  tlie  Coiniii'v  — 
••The  Old  Cliapel"— ••Tlie  Old  Palace "— Ketiremenl  of  Dr. 
O'Doiiel  —  Appointment  of  Dr.  l.anibiTt — Testimony  of  ll"<pi'ct 
to  Df.  o'Donel  on  leaving:  tlie  Country  —  Mairnaninions  Conduct 
of  tile  Mercliants  and  Inliabilants —  CInii'lisli  Conduct  of  (ioveiiior 
(iowef — Dr.  (>"Donei  deceives  a  I'l'iision  of  C'lO  pfr  Aniiiim  — 
Ills  l)ei)arture  from  tlie  Isiaiid.  Last  Days,  Death  (l.sll), 
E|iilapli  —  Heview  of  liis  Episcopati —  Personal  Character  .     L'0(i 


cii.vrrKii  XVII. 

EDUCATIONAL    INSTITUTION'S. 

The  ••  Henevolonf  Irisli  Society  "  —  Tlie  ■  Orplian  .\sylum"  —  State 
of  Education  in  the  Island — Its  N'arious  I'li.ases  Traced  — 
The  Ii'ish  Society's  Schools — FatluT  IMeminir  I'.ndeavofs  to 
j^et  Couli'ol  of  tlieni.  l.s^.'lt  —  Protestant  I'^ducational  Institu- 
tions—  I'irst  Education  .\ct.  isi;! — iMumdalion  of  Pi-otestant 
and  Catliolic  Colleues.  isll  —  (ieiieral  ,\cadeniy  of  St,  .lolin'> 
—  Eoruiation  of  the  l{oiuaii  Calhi>lic,  Chufeli  of  I'.nirland.  and 
(ieneral  Pi'otestanl  .Vcademies,  ls,"iO  —  Openini,''  of  St.  IJoua- 
veiitnre's  Collciji'.  l.s,'i,">  —  Estalilishuienl  of  \\'e-.lryan  Academy, 
ls,"i,s — Dr.  Miillocl<\  X'iew-  oil  Education  —  ■■The  Monk"."  — 
The  Christian  Brothers .        ,         . 


(•ll.M'I'KH    XVIII. 

IJT.    1!KV.    1)1!.    LAMUEUT,   SECOND   lUSlIOP.  —  [ISOG-ISIT.] 
Dr.  Lanil)ert  —  His  Visitation  of  Conception   Hay   and  Eerryland- 


i 


lie  Eiilaryies  the  '•  OUl  Chapel "  — Delicate  State  of  Health  — lie 
Kesiiius  ill  Favor  of  Dr,  Seailan 


■2:W 


i« 


CONTENTS. 


CilAI'THH    XIX. 

HT.   UKV.   [)R.  SC.VLL.VN,   TIIIIM)   Itl.SI  101*.— [1817-18^0.] 

Dr.  riiuiiiiis  Scnlliin  —  His  ("onsocriUloii  in  VVi-xford  —  Arrives  in 
Ncwi'dundland,  iHld  —  I'rirsts  in  tlic  Island  at  tliat  Tinio  — 
llis  Hci)<>rt  of  tlic  .Mission  to  I'ropaKuuda — Cliaractcr  of  Dr. 
.Scaiian  —  Kxi'css  of  Liberality  —  Dr.  Hourlve  appointed  First 
IJisliop  of  Nova  .Scotia  —  Deeiininii  Heaitli  of  Dr.  Scallan  — 
.Vccounts  for  liis  \V'eal<ness  of  I'nrpose— .Seeivs  a  Coadjutor 
—  Fatlier 'Michael  .Vntliony  Fleinini;  is  .\pi)ointed  and  (Conse- 
crated in  tlie  "Old  Ciiaijei."  ISL'ii  —  Deatli  and  Hurial  of  Dr. 
Scaiian — llis  .Monument  in  tiie  Cathedral — Heview  of  his 
Episcuputo 


240 


CIIAPTKK    XX. 

LAHR.VDOR. 

Ori^iinof  tlu^  Name  —  Population  —  .Moravian  Missionaries  —  .Vntieosti 
.\nnexe(l  to  tlie  Diocese  of  St.  .lohn's  —  Division  of  I'arislies  — 
Inci'ease  of  Catholieitv 24'.t 


tilAlTKH    XXI. 

I!T.    ItKV.    DK.    ll.KMIXC,   I'OrHTll    HLSIIOP.— [1820-1833.] 

Connneneenienl  of  Dr.  Fleminif's  F.piscopate  —  State  of  tlie  Colony 
—  Catholic  F.i.iancipation — Its  F.tlect  on  Irishmen  .Vhroad  —  In- 
loUranct'  in  St.  .Jolm's — De;iradinu:  Taxes  —  Fimeral  and  Mar- 
riage Fees  Imposed  on  Catliolics — Dr.  Fieminif  Kefiises  to  I'ay 
tliem  —  Kedivision  of  Parishes — .Vrrival  of  Nine  New  Mission- 
arii's,  Fathers  Troy.  Nowlan,  Bcrney.  1'.  Cleary,  etc.  —  Dr.  Fleni- 
inii  Presents  Memorial  in  Favor  of  I'jnaneipation — Forwards 
Siil)scription  to  the  O't'onnell  l^'und  —  His  Lil)(.'ralily  towards 
Dissenters  —  t)l)tains  for  them  Keliiiions  Libertv  .... 


ii,- 


cn.vprKH  XXII. 

THE   PHHSENT.VriOX  Nl'N.S.— [1833.] 

The  Presentation  Nuns — .Motlier  Maiidalen's  Narrative  —  Journey  to 
Diil)lin  —  Waterford — \'oyau;e  to  Newfoundland  —  Openin;;  of 
tlie  Schools  —  Tlie  Presentation  Convent  —  "The  Fire  of  '4(1"  — 
Convent  Dt'stroyed  —  New  Convent  and  Scliools  Erected — First 
Heliiiioiis  Reception  —  Jubilee,  18;$3-i54  —  Other  Conventual  Es- 
tahlishnients  in  .\merica 


A? 


(! 


CONTKNTS. 


19 


w  I 


PAliK 


;!oi 


(ilAlTKH    XXIV. 


Till-:   (.VniKDUAI,.—  [18;!fi-lSI!).] 

CoiniiU'iiccinciit  of  llif  Catlu'dral — Dilliciilty  <>l'  Ohliiiiiiny:  (iroiind  — 
Hoceptidii  (if  Dr.  KIciiiiiiir  nii  liis  Wciiini  Ifom  Itoinc  —  I-'iirtlitT 
Didlciiltics  plai'cd  in  liis  Way  —  lie  iii'tiini^  to  Kii;;lan(l  in  Winter. 
ls;!s — ( '(tri'csiiondcncc  rclalin^t  to  Catlicdral  (iroinid  —  AnsIsI- 
ftiu'i'  UcndiTcd  l)y  tiic  Irish  raiiianicntary  I'arly,  OX'oiincll. 
Lyiicii.  Muorc  o'Kcrrall  —  Katlicr  'I'roy  .Vppoinlcd  X'icar  (icnci'al 
—  Letter  from  Dr.  1-Meniiny:  to  liini  —  Tlie  (ironnd  for  Catiiedral 
secured  —  KiiliiMsiasni  of  file  I'eopii —  Mnllins'  (iliost  —  Miel\le\ 
••('ro<)l<ed  l''urrony;li  " — Keneinii  in  tlieCroiind  —  Preparation 
of  Materiais  for  llie  Cathedral  —  Layiny  t lie  Koundatioii  Stone. 
l,s(l — Cnnipletion  of  tlie  ( 'athedral        ...... 


;i:.7 


cn.vp'iKU  XXV. 


Till-:   .Mi;i{(  Y    .NUN'S.— [18;i7-lS.-|().] 

Tersecntion  of  Dr.  Kleniin;:- — Tlie  ••  Secret  Allidavits" — His  \'isitto 
Home  —  Honor  Conferred  on  liini  l)y  tiic  I'ope  —  .appointed 
Domestic  Trelate  to  His  Holiness  and  .\ssislant  at  the  rontilical 
'rin'on( — lntroducti(Mi  of  tlie  Sisters  of  .Mercy.  1842 — .Vrrival 
of  the  Xuns  —  Knthnsiastie  Ueception  —  Sister  Francis Crecdon — 
Sister  .I<)si'i)li  Xnjreiit  —  Mother  Mary  \'incent  — 'I'lie  "  Faniinc 
Fever."  1S48— The  Cholera.  IS.m;— 'I'lie  Orplianaire  —  .Motller 
Xavier  — 'I'lie  .New  <  trplianaire —  St.  Mride's  .\cadeiiiy 


;?(l.-i 


(ii.\rrKi{  XXVI. 

roLITICS.— [18.3'2-KS;!8.] 

fieneral  Review  —  State  of  I'olitics  —  Petition  for  Home  Rul(>  —  Local 
Leirislature  (Jranted,  is;i2  —  First  Flections  —  ■Indfio  Boulton  — 
Alliiir  of  Drs.  Carson  and  Keilly  —  Patrick  .Morris,  Fs(|.,  Attacks 


20 


CONTKNTS. 


the  .liidirr  ill  llic  Assfiiililv  —  M»'«isrs,  Nnirciii.  Keiii.  and  Carson 
.\|>|Miliii('(|  It  l)('li';;iiti<>ii  to  London  on  tlii'  lionlloii  Casi' — Dr. 
Flcinliiy's  \'it'\vs  on  llic  Siilijcct  —  IlisCJi-fal  liitliiciicc  al  lloiiii'. 
and  in  l,ocal  I'olltifs — .Iiidi;;c  noidtoii  ('ondfiiiiifd  and  lU'iiiovcd,     Jl'H 

(IIAPTKH    XXVM. 


AFTKii  "Till;  Fim;."-[isi7-i8r)0.] 

SiitliTiiiUN  of  tlic  Clti/.i'iis  —  ••  Tlic  Camps"  —  (ii'iicroslty  of  tlu- 
IVopli'  in  Siiiiscriiiiiii,'  to  llic  IJclifl'  ol"  tlic  l''ainliu'-Stricl\i'n  in 
Iffland —  Dr.  Flciniiiir  Applies  for  a  Coaiijiiloi  — Fatlur  .1. 
T.  .Miillocix,  O.S.F.,  .appointed  —  .Vri'ivcs  in  Ncwfoiindatui.  .Mav, 
isj.s  —  Newfoundland  Fivcti'd  into  a  Diocese,  to  lie  .Vinicxcd 
to  the  I'rovliice  of  Qnehec — Dr.  Fleiiiinii  olijccts  to  this  .\r- 
ran^fciiieiit.  also  Dr.  .Mullock—  .Vrraiifieiiuiit  Wi'scimled  l>y  lioiiie 

—  I'roji'i'l  "I  '•'■  Colonial  Kccleslastical  Seniinar\ — It  is  ( ip- 
poscd  liy  Dr.  Flcinini; — lie  (iivi's  his  Keiisoiis — His  rrejudice 
ajraliist  a  Cohtiiial  I'riestliood — Nohle  Views  of  Dr.  .MiiUock  on 
this  Siilijcct  —  I'",stal)lishincnt  of  St.  lionaxt-ntiire's  CoUc.mc— Dis- 
tinjiuishcd  N<'\vfoiiiidlaiid  I'riests  .Miroad  —  Kevs.  '1".  Hrown,  S..I., 
P.  Ryan.  S.,I..  L.  Kavanaifh,  S..I..  and  .1.  Meiiiiett.  C.S.S.U.— Tlio 
"  First  Native  Priest  "—Fatlur  1'.  Mcairlifr.  S.,1.— l{ev.  .Messrs. 
(Jreeiie,  Miilloy,  Il()y;aii  —  Sister  M.  Baptist,  First  ••  Native   Nun" 

—  Uev.  .Jiiines  Brown.  First  .Vctiial  Missionary  Born  in  the 
Country — I,ast  Days  of  Dr.  Flcminir— lie  Celel)rates  the  I''irst 
Mass  in  tlie  Cathedral  —  Ills  Death  and  Funeral     .         .         .         . 


'.SI 


APPENDIX 


;!:i7 


"ST    0¥   ILLUSTIUTIONS. 


t! 


Ut.    Ki:v.    I),;.    F,.,:,,,^,, 

Zi:.\(.'s  Mu\   1(00  . 
•"^i:itA.sTn.s  ('u,,,r  . 

«i:"AST..VN    Cviinrs    .Mu-,     III,, 

'*<'X   (r<)\i.:i{;, 

l!<'\     I  IK  H  TOM) 

\'ati( w  M^,. 

•"•n..x,.;  Mu.  ,.„•  Vkkka.ax., 
•'a<«^ii:s  Cm:,  11:1;   ; 

''<>I!I>    I'>AI.TlM,)|;i; 


n' 


\m:i;\ii.i.i:  \',.ssy 


"ai!i:'.s  Ku!s  . 


r'"" ''''''■'■■''"""■»  ^■™— ...»«,-,„„■  ;:  ^ 


'''"W.N    OK    I'l.ullNTlA 


'"I'm:  oi.i.  I'u.M,-/ 


I'AdE 

frontispiece. 

I'^acituj       2;! 

.       4-> 

48 

r.i 
.     r>.> 

facing  {■,{', 
(lit 
7!) 

,s.-, 

sr 
100 

<J       110 

IL'f 

Facinij     1(2 
Facing     |.-,o 


^^'•   KKV.    n..   ,„u,...K                    '"^'l'^'— -B.VV  racing  ,,;.; 

C'"v  «>!■•  St.  .(..u.n-s                                                    '         ■         ■  ^""WiC  21(4 

Cathi:i)I!a,,  ,„..  Sr.  j„„,,  .,,,,    ,.  '''^""^  -'i-fO 

21                                                       ./  - 


\  J: 


» •*- '   "'^. 


K./' 


.1  IVuaKuMt,' 


Ji^        • 


I 


VI.''     -nx' 


,'        f-  •■■-,'  I 


.^ 


I,. 


.  s 


v; 


i  • 


"^-■f^'I^'., 


NEWFOUNDLAND 


Bteaii^iMMBAM 


ma 


'!   Il 


fir- 


'-»»«<«  -i^: 


fi    |tTlHv/'V 


A 


S'lTltH  H  yiKa   ■»? 


f— J 


Ju 


—  (J* 


ft 


ECCLESIASTICAL  HISTORY 


or 


NEWFOUNDLAND. 


CHAPTER  1. 


INTRODUCTORY. 

Spirit  of  Geographical  Research  Aroused  in  tlie  Fifteenth  Century  —  The  Art  of  Print- 
ing Invented  by  a  (icrman  Catholic  —  Unfair  Criticisms  of  Protestant  Writers  — 
The  Polyglot  Printing  Office  of  Propaganda  —  Tiie  Popes  the  Encouragers  of 
Science  :iud  Discovery  —  Their  Gi'cat  Political  Power  —  Character  of  Columbus  — 
Il'a  Desire  for  (Jold  Explained  —  Missionary  Spirit  of  the  Early  Navigators  —  Cham- 
plain —  His  Religious  Sentiment  —  Pcre  Lo  Clcrq,  O.S.F.  —  Captain  Richard 
Whitbnuvno  —  His  Enthusiasm  for  Newfoundland  —  Ilis  Anxiety  for  the  Con- 
version of  the  Red  Indians  —  The  Institution  of  the  "  Propaganda  Fide"  —  Contrast 
between  the  above-mentioned  Voyagers  and  Sir  Humphrey  Gilbert. 


I 


■M 


:t      < 


rt 


I 


IN  reading  the  accounts  of  the  voyages  of  those  heroic 
men  who,  towards  the  close  of  the  fiftoenth  century, 
foUowing  in  the  wake  of  the  great  Columbus,  sallied  forth 
upon  the  unknown  deej)  in  search  of  new  worlds,  we  can- 
not but  be  struck  with  the  strong  religious  spirit,  amounting 
almost  to  enthusiasm,  which  animated  them  in  all  their 
glorious  enterprises. 

This  i)articular  point  of  history  marks  the  commencement 
of  what  may  be  called  "  The  Great  Transformation  Scene  " 
of  the  world's  drama :  the  transition  from  the  romantic 
epoch  which  men  are  pleased  to  call  "  the  dark  ages,"  to  the 
utilitarian  period,  which  seems  to  have  reached  its  culmina- 
tion in  this  our  nineteenth  century. 

23 


I.  / 


24 


ECCLESIASTICAL  HISTORY 


It  was  the  diiwn  of  a  now  era,  when  the  liinco  and  the  lute 
of  the  knii^ht-troubjidour  bof^an  to  <^ivo  place*  to  the  pen  and 
the  lodjrcr  of  (he  accountart.  Men  were  heiiinninsr  to  seek 
something  besides  honor  a.  d  jJjlory  as  the  reward  of  their 
labors,  and  were  no  lon<;er  satis'ied  with  the  wave  of  a  silken 
kerehief  from  some  "  fayre  hub  e"  innnured  in  castle-keep. 

We  behold  the  first  erop[)ln^  up  of  the  practical  view  of 
matters  which  has  become  paramount  in  these  modern  times, 
and  which  immediately  considers  things  from  a  tinancial 
stand-point,  asking  such  pertinent  (juestions  as  "Will  the 
venture  ^;oy  ? '"  "Are  there  likely  to  be  any  dividends?" 
"What  are  the  risks  and  prol)abilities  of  success  or  failure?" 
etc. 

The  great  development  of  thought  and  the  spirit  of  enter- 
prise, which  manifested  themselves  al.'out  this  time,  have  been 
generally  attributed  to  a  sudden  awakening  from  darkness  to 
light ;  from  the  dim  shadows  of  the  sui)erstition  and  ignorance 
of  the  middle  ages  to  the  full  sunburst  of  modern  enlighten- 
ment.  It  is  not  our  object  to  dwell  diffusely  on  this  subject 
here.  The  theme  is  daily  handled  by  our  best  Catholic 
writers.  It  is  enough  to  say  that  such  is  not  a  correct  view 
of  the  intellectual  and  scientitic  awakening  of  the  fifteenth 
century.  It  was,  in  fact,  but  another  step  in  the  gradual  and 
regular  onward  march  made  by  mankind  through  the  course 
of  centuries.  The  human  race  was  ever  steadily  advancing 
in  the  path  of  progress.  One  century  beheld  a  particidar 
region  of  knowledge  subdued  and  taken  i)()ssessi()n  of;  the 
next,  another.  That  century  is  remarkable  for  con(|uests  in 
the  domain  of  astronomy  ;  this,  for  its  crcj'.f  ions  in  the  world 
of  art ;  another,  for  the  spread  of  colonization. 

The  period  of  which  we  are  now  writing  was  signalized  by  a 
wondrous  sjjirit  of  geographical  research.  Men  were  desirous 
of  finding  out  the  extent  of  this,  their  earthly  habitation,  and 
of  exploring  it  to  its  utmost  limits. 

The  magic  art  of  printing,  invented  towards  the  middle  of 
the  century,  is  considered  by  many  as  one  of  the  great  causes 
of  modern  civilization  and  enlijrhtemncnt.     No  doubt  this  is 


; 


1  I 


mmmsi 


OF   NEWFOUNDLAND. 


25 


true  ;  hut  it  ought  to  ho  looked  upon  rather  as  the  eftbet  of  th(5 
desire,  so  strongly  existing  in  tlu^  world  at  the  time,  of  eoni- 
nuuiieating  knowledge  and  bringing  minds  intoeonvcrso  with 
eaeh  other.  "  This  invention  "  (says  Sir  Walter  Scott,  h}'  the 
mouth  of  (Jaleoth,  in  "(.^uentin  Durwiird")  '' niay  he  likened 
to  a  young  tree,  which  in  succeeding  ages  shall  hea'"  fruit  as 
fatal  yet  as  ])recious  as  that  of  Eden,  .  .  .  changing  the 
whole  form  of  social  life,  establishing  aiul  overthrowing 
religions,  erecting  and  destroying  kingdoms  ! "  Flipi)ant 
writers  are  accustomed  to  glor}'  over  this  invention  as  "  the 
delivery  from  monkish  superstition  and  ignoraiu-e."  The 
poor  monks,  who  for  centuries  had  sjuMit  their  lives  in  coi)y- 
ing  and  presiu-ving  aiul  nudtiplying  the  nuuuiscripts  of  pre- 
ceding ages,  are  scoffed  and  j(!er(!d  at  as  heing  now  at  last 
dei)rived  of  the  power  of  "concealing  their  knowledge  from 
the  world."  Even  such  a  brilliant  and  generally  fair-minded 
writer  as  AVashington  Irving  cannot  do  Justice  to  this  subject. 
lie  says  ("  Life  of  Columbus,"  Book  I.,  Cha}).  I.)  :  "  During  a 
long  night  of  moid<isli  bigotry  and  false  learning,  geograi)hy, 
with  other  sciences,  had  been  lost  to  European  nations.  .  .  . 
And"  (Chap.  VT.)  "the  recent  invention  of  printing  . 
drew  forth  learning  from  libraries  and  convents.  .  .  .  Vol- 
imies  of  information,  .  .  .  '•arefully  treasured  up  and /I'ej)/ 
out  of  reach  of  tlie  iudigod  sch  )lar,  .  .  .  were  now  in  every 
hand."  The  taunt  is  most  unjvist,  besides  being  unintelligible. 
If  the  nioidvs  had  not  "treasured  up  "  this  learning,  hy  years 
of  lahor  and  study,  it  would  not  have  been  there  "in  libraries 
and  convents"  for  the  art  of  printing  to  "draw  forth.'' 
Surely,  then,  we  owe  gratitude,  not  contemi)t,  to  the  un- 
wearying copyists  ! 

Such  writers  also  forget  that  the  very  art  itself  of  print- 
ing we  owe  to  a  devout  C\'ith<)lie  man,  Laurentius,  cnstox, 
or  oedituus,  of  the  Cathedi-al  of  Haarlem  ;  and  instead  of  the 
monks  and  priests  endeavoring  to  retard  science,  or  check 
the  spirit  of  enterprise  and  discovery,  it  was  quite  the 
contrary.  When  Christopher  Columbus  had  pleaded  in  vain 
for  eighteen  years,  at  the  courts  of  kings  and  the  castles  of 


26 


ECCLESIASTICAL  HISTORY 


N 


\l\ 


:i 


the  nobility,  for  assistiincc  to  ciirry  out  his  greiit  dosij^n  of 
the  discovery  of  ii  new  world,  he  was  treated  with  con- 
temptuous disdain  by  those  proud  and  wealthy  men  ;  and  it 
was  from  a  humble  friar  of  the  Order  of  f*'t.  Francis,  Fra 
Juan  Perez,  and  a  Dominican  monk,  Doni  Diego  de  Deza, 
that  he  received  encouragement  to  persevere.  And  the 
Catholic  Church,  so  far  from  fearing  or  seeking  to  suppress 
the  art  of  printing,  seized  with  avidity  upon  it.  Editions  of 
the  Bible  and  other  ivliijfious  and  scientitic  books  b(><;an  at 
once  to  pour  forth  from  Catholic  universities  and  i)rinting- 
houses  in  Germany,  England,  France,  and  Italy. 

In  Rome  the  celebrated  ])olyglot  print ing-otlice  of  Propa- 
ganda was  established  by  the  Pope,  which  has  since  become 
the  most  wonderful  institution  of  the  kind  in  the  Avorld.  It 
l)ul)lishes  works  in  fifty-live  difterent  languages,  not  only 
works  of  spiritual  doctrines,  scripture,  and  theology,  but 
grammars  and  dictionaries  of  the  various  languages.  There 
are  tyjie  fonts  for  twenty-seven  European,  twenty-two 
Asiatic,  three  American,  and  three  African  languages. 
There  are  two  sets  of  Chinese  characters,  each  of  which  con- 
tains fen  tJiousund  letters  or  symbols.  In  the  year  1870  the 
"Our  Father"  was  printed  in  an  album  in  two  hundred  and 
tifty  different  languages  and  dialects,  and  in  one  hundred 
and  eighty  (lillcrent  sets  or  fonts  of  characters.  In  1860  to 
1870  the  celebrated  Vatican  I)ible,  called  the  Codex  Vali- 
canus,  Avas  reproduced  in  fac-siniile  in  the  beautiful  sticho- 
metrical  ^y\^G  of  the  tilth  century. 

Pope  Imioc(>nt  VIII.,  a  man  of  enlightened  views  and  a 
fellow-citizen  of  Columbus,  stood  also  his  tirm  friend,  and 
gave  his  pontifical  blessing  to  his  expedition. 

The  Popt^s  were  ahva^'s  foren^ost  in  every  undertaking 
which  tended  to  advance  science*  or  enlarge  the  sphere  of 
man's  knowledge.  They  Avere,  in  fact,  bound  to  do  so  by  a 
double  obligation  :  First,  as  the  divinely  appointed  guar- 
dians of  men's  souls.  Secondly,  as  the  most  i)owerful  and 
influential  sovereigns  in  the  world.  AVhenevcr  a  new 
country  was  discovered,  the   right   of  the  Pontiffs   to    the 


OF   NEWFOUNDLAND. 


27 


i 


spiriliiiil  dominion  thereof  wms  not  for  ii  nionunit  (lucstioiied, 
even  l)y  the  Stsite  or  Sovonngn  to  whoso  kin<r<lom  the  new 
liiiids  were  annexed  und  the  new  peoples  sulxhiod.  Nuy, 
more,  the  superior  rijjjiit  or  power  wus  aeknowledged  in 
the  Pop(!  to  eompel  civil  prinees  to  do  jiistic(^  to  their  suh- 
jeets,  and  to  fulfil  their  duties  to  (iod  ;  and  to  i)uiiish  them 
by  interdict,  and  even  dethronement,  in  case  of  defalcation 
or  contumacy.  However  much  modern  writers  may  fume 
und  chafe  over  this  assumed  power  and  arrogance  of  the 
Popes,  as  they  call  it,  it  woidd  he  far  more  phil()so{)hical 
to  look  the  facts  straight  in  the  faces,  and  to  admit  that, 
whether  right  or  wrong,  the  deposing  j)ower  was  freely  con- 
ceded to  the  J'opes  by  the  soviu'eigns  themselves;  and  they 
were  the  first,  in  case  of  ditBculty,  to  appeal  to  the  Pope  for 
redress.  All  were  willing  that  the  Poi)e  should  exercise  his 
supreme  power  ui)on  their  neighbors,  but  it  was  only  when 
they  felt  its  pressure  u})on  themselves  that  they  considered  it 
rather  inconvenieiit.  On  the  discovery  of  new  eouniricss, 
then,  the  Popes,  mindful  of  the  spiritual  charge  to  teach  all 
nations,  s(!nt  forth  at  once  their  missionaries.  Ilenco  we 
find  the  envoys  of  the  Cross  following  hard  upon  the  hoels 
of  the  concpiering  legions  or  in  i\w  Avake  of  the  adventhrous 
exi)lorer.  Thus,  no  sooner  had  the  illustrious,  travller, 
]\Iarco  Polo,  returned  from  the  distant  lands  of  India  ^A.D. 
1247)  than  Po[)e  Innocent  IV.  (Usspatched  two  friars, 
Carpini  and  Ascelin,  as  apostolic  ambassadors,  to  })roeure 
the  conversion  of  that  great  nation. 

The  discovery  of  foreign  coimtries,  and  the  extension  of 
commerce  and  diffusion  of  wealth  aecruini;  therefrom,  mav 
be  looked  upon  as  the  remoti'  cause  of  the  spirit  of  infidelity 
and  indifferent  ism  so  sadly  ])revalent  in  those  times.  But 
this  great  change  did  not  take  i)lace  all  of  a  sudden  ;  hence 
we  tind  in  the  exi)lorers  of  the  tifteenth  and  sixteenth  centu- 
ries what  seems  sometimes  an  incongruous  mixtuns  of  worldly 
and  religious  motives. 

Colund)us  himself,  though  he  never  ceased  to  speak  of  the 
harvest  of  souls  lo  be  gleaned,  still  does  not  neglect,  in  his 


28 


KCCLESIASTICAL    HISTORY 


ploii(liii<r.s  witli  tlu'  Court  of  Spain,  to  take  full  advantaj^jo 
of  the  prosports  of  honor,  glory,  })o\ver,  and,  aljovc  all,  of 
wt'allli,  which  his  Now  World  will  brinji^  to  str"n<;th(Mi  the  ciu- 
pirc.  This  was  only  to  Ix^  oxpcctod,  as  he  wished  to  us(>  evory 
availal)l(  ar<rinn('nt  to  cnsunMisslslancc.  Hut  it  would  a|)p('ar 
(hat  ho  had  himself  a  stronj;  desire  for  ohlainiuif  wealth  by 
his  enterprise.  He  sti|)ulated  with  tlu^  king  that  "  onc-tiMith 
of  all  pearls,  preeious  stones,  gold,  silvor,  sjjieos,  and  all 
other  merchandise"  should  ho  his.  Again,  when  \w  landed 
on  the  shores  of  the  Xew  World,  aftei-  having  first  given 
thaid<s  to(iod,iiis  lirst  thought  was  (/old.  He  said  h(>  would 
stop  nowhere  till  he  had  discovered  the  region  of  gold;  the 
kingdom  of  the  (Jrand  Khan,  the  king  of  kings;  of  whoso 
wealth  Marco  I'olo,  in  the  preceding  century,  had  told  such 
wondrous  tales:  Of  the  beautiful  city  of  (^uisnai,  with  its 
twelve  thousand  bridges,  its  gi'and  market-places  and  canals, 
its  marble  palaces  and  terraces,  groves  and  gardens;  of  Cani- 
l)alew,  where  the  j)eoplo  dressed  in  cloth  of  gold,  and  cam- 
brics of  the  finest  fabric,  and  furs  of  ermine  and  sable  ;  of 
Cipango,  where  the  palace  of  the  (rrand  Khan  was  roofed 
with  tiles  of  gold,  and  tloorod  with  plates  of  the  same 
precious  metal. 

Columbus  sailed  about  among  the  Bahamas  from  island  to 
island,  all  the  time  seeking  this  gold-bearing  country',  l)ut  in 
vain.  This  trait  in  his  character  was  altogether  unintelligible 
until  light  was  thrown  on  it  by  documents  afterwards  discov- 
ered. The  avaricious  and  inordinate  love  of  gold  is  univer- 
sally acknowledged  as  an  index  of  a  low  and  sordid  character, 
a  narrow  mind,  and  ungenerous  soul.  Such  a  (lis()osition  is 
the  very  antithesis  of  the  noble,  generous,  heroic  discoverer. 
IIow,  then,  account  for  it?  The  answer  is  given  by  Irving 
(Hook  II..  Chai).  VII.):  "Anticipating  boundless  wealth 
from  his  discoveries,  he  suggested  that  the  treasures  thus 
ac(iuired  should  be  consecrated  to  the  pious  purpose  of 
rescuing  the  IIol}'  Sepulchre  of  .Jerusalem  from  tlu^  power 
of  the  intidels.  In  his  will  he  imposes  the  oI)ligation  on  his 
son  Diego  to  expend  in  this  holy  object  all  the  moneys  col- 


i 


( 


OF   NKWFOUNDLANI). 


'29 


I^i 


n 


Irctdd  from  his  oxpcdition  ;  and  to  ^o  liiiiisclf,  it"  ncccssury, 
with  th(^  kin<;  to  ii^ht  for  Iho  liln^riilioii  of  the  holy  j)l:i<'<'s." 

Here  Wi'  Imvo  thc^  key  to  the  lotfy  and  apparently  am- 
bitious d(Mnands  of  viw-rogal  diiiiiity,  and  ii  tenth  part  of 
all  the  profits  ;  and  of  his  eajrer  search  for  <2:old.  lie  wanted 
to  tit  out  an  expedition  of  tifty  thousand  men,  on  his  own 
aeeount,  in  ease  tlie  kin^f  refused.  Thus,  the  apparent 
weakness  or  defe(^t  of  eliaraeter,  whieii  would  he  an  ol)staele 
to  hemic  virtue,  and  conse(iuenti3'  to  the  pros|)eets  of  his 
canoni/ation,'  likt;  all  otiier  ol)jeetions  of  the  "Devil's  advo- 
cate," is  not  only  dissipated,  I)ut  beconu^s  a  proof  of  greater 
sanctity. 

I'lie  missionary  spirit,  wliich  was  develop(H[  in  a  heroic 
dej^ree  in  Ciuistopher  ('oluml)us,  who  was  himself  a  menil)er 
of  the  Third  ()rd(irof  St.  Francis,  wv  find  also  very  ardently 
burnin<r  in  tlu^  breasts  of  those  brave  voyaj^ers  who  followed 
in  his  track  in  the  Hueceedlnj^  centuries. 

In  his  second  voyaiLre,  commenced  on  the  2')th  of 
September,  14!)."),  he  was  accomi)anied  by  twelve  priests, 
under  the  chariie  of  tlu*  Benedictine  Father  Jioil.  After  the 
discovery  of  Florida  by  Ponce  de  Leon,  in  1512,  numerous 
exi)editions  succeeded  each  otlu^r,  all  accom})anied  by  mis- 
sionaries. The  adventurer,  the  soldier,  and  the  priest 
always  landed  to<r(Uher  on  newly  discovered  sti'ands  ;  and 
the  cross  always  accompanied  tiie  standai'd  of  Catholic 
nations.  In  l^.'U-")  ,lac(jues  C^artier  brought  out  [)riests  to 
Newfoundland  and  Canada.  In  1539  Friar  Mark,  of  Nice, 
penetrated  totlu^  interior  of  Mexico,  and  brought  the  symbol 
of  faith  to  the  savage  tribes  of  the  interior.  In  1010-11  the 
Jesuits,  and  in  1(>15  the  Franciscans,  were  brought  out  to 
Canada  by  the  Sieurs  de  Poutrincourt  and  Champlain  ;  all 
of  wliich  events  will  be  more  i)articularly  described  in  the 
course  of  this  work. 

Champlain,    who    possessed    all   the   zeal    and    fervor    of 


'  A  petition,  sijrncd  by  a  liirj,'e  number  of  ibo  fathers  of  tlio  Vatieiin  Council,  wi's 
presented  to  Pope  Pins  IX.  in  1870,  asking  to  have  the  "  Cause  "  of  the  canoniiculion 
of  Columbus  mooted  or  "  promoted." 


80 


ECCLKSIASTICAL  HISTORY 


Coluiiilms,  Im.s  left  iimi)l(^  mikI  ;i;i'Ji|»liic  iiccoimts  of  all  his 
voyages  in  llu>  (|uaiiil  Old  French  of  the  period,  nliieii  are 
preserved  in  llu;  archives  of  (^iicIk'o,  and  whieh  siiow,  in 
every  page,  the  sineero  ndigions  spirit  whieh  aniiualed  him. 
lie  tells  ns,  with  rare  simplieity  and  vaiv^ti^  (Voyage  of 
KUf),  p.  D),  how,  while  waiting  at  IIcMtllenr  for  ii  fair 
wind,  he  and  all  his  crew  ))repai'ed  themselves,  "so  that  each 
one  of  ns  (examined  himself  and  cleansed  himself  of  his  sins 
l)y  a  j)enance  and  confession  of  them,  in  order  to  say  his 
good-))y  to  (lod  (or  to  make  his  salutation,  yt«Ve  non  ban 
Jour),  and  to  put  himself  in  n  state  of  grace  ;  so  as  thus 
l)eing  more  fice,  each  one  in  his  conscience,  to  exposes  him- 
self to  the  Eyes  of  (iod.and  to  the  Mere}'  of  the  vast  depths 
of  this  great  and  mighty  ocean." 

His  constMiit  thought  was  the  conversion  of  the  jxjor 
savages.  Thus  he  concludes  the  aceoinit  of  the  voyage  of 
1(51(5:  .  .  .  "AVe  arrived  in  good  health  at  Ilonlleur, 
thaidxs  to  (Jod,  on  the  lOth  Seplemher,  .  .  .  where 
liaving  arrived,  we  ren<h'red  jn'aise,  and  Acts  of  thanks  to 
God  ;  for  the  so  nmch  care  He  had  of  us,  in  the  preservation 
of  our  lives  ;  and  for  having,  as  it  were,  snatched  us,  and 
drawn  us  from  so  many  dangers  to  which  we  Avere  exposed, 
as  also  for  having  h'd  us  back  in  safety  and  health  to  our 
own  country  ;  and  praying  Ilim  also  to  move  the  heart  of 
our  king,  and  the  Lords  of  liis  Couui-il,  to  contribute  the 
necessary  assistance  to  bring  the  poor  savsige  nations  to  the 
knowledge  of  Ciod  :  of  which  the  honor  would  revert  to  his 
Majesty,  to  the  Greatness  and  the  advancement  of  his 
Em})ire  :  to  the  utility  of  his  subjects,  and  the  (ilory  of  all 
his  designs ;  and  to  God,  only  authoi-  of  all  perfection,  to 
Avhom  be  honor  and  Glory.     Amen."' 

In  the  voyage  of  1(518  he  was  accompanied  by  priests  of 
the  Order  of  St.  Francis.  IV-rc  Le  Gleni,  6.S.F.,  has 
given  a  description  of  their  hardships  and  trials  ("Premiere 
Etablissement  de  la  Foi,"  Tom.  I.,  p.  104),  so  interesting  that 
I  am  tempted  to  transfer  the  following  (juotation  :  "The 
voyage  was  long  and  stormy.     .     .     .     Having  arrived  about 


1^ 


? 


OF   NKWFOIJNDLANI). 


;n 


\? 


- 


00  loiifruos  tVoin  the  Grand  Bunk,  llii-y  found  tlionisolvos 
burroundcd  hy  iinrncnso  ico-liclds,  whicli  tlu!  winds  and  cur- 
rcnlH  piislu'd  violently  a<;ainst  the  vessel.  In  tlu;  <;eneral 
consternation,  Pere  Joseph  Lo  Camn,  seeing  that  no  hiunan 
succour  could  save  them  I't'oin  shipwreck,  very  earnestly 
besought  Heaven  hy  vows  and  ])rayers,  which  ho  puhlicdy 
nmde  on  hoard  tlui  vess»d.  He:  confessed  tluMu  all,  and 
placed  himself  in  a  state  to  appear  before  (lod.  It  was  a 
sight  to  touch  oni'  with  compassion,  to  si'e  Madam  Herbert 
raise  the  smallest  of  her  children  to  receive  the  blessing  of 
the  Good  Father.  They  escaped  almost  by  a  mlrucle  after 
13  weeks  of  voyage." 

These  (luotations,  though  rather  lengthy,  will  not,  it  is 
hoped,  prove  iminteresting.  They  give  us  a  lively  picture 
of  the  dang(>rs  accompanying  the  expeditions  of  the  early 
colonizers  of  our  country  some  three  hundred  years  ago. 
They  show  also  of  what  metal  they  Avei"e  made.  They  teach 
us  that  simplicity  of  faith,  and  the  oi)en  ))r!ictice  tlu^reof,  are 
not  inconi|)atible  with  the  noblest  deeds  of  courage  and 
scientific  enterprise  ;  and  as  such  are  a  stunning  rebuke  to 
the  braggait  s[)irit  of  modern  times,  which  would  rtdegate  all 
cxjjression  of  religious  sentimcMit  to  old  women  and  children, 
as  a  mark  of  weakness  or  superstition. 

It  is  dithcult  for  us  to  realize  tin;  bravery  of  these  men. 
We  can  hardly  believe  what  a  during  thing  it  was  to  face  the 
wide  Atlantic  in  the  then  imperfect  state  of  nautical  knowl- 
edffe,  and  in  the  frail  and  unsuitalde  barks  whicli  then 
existed.  Tlie  largest  of  Columbus'  vessels,  the  "Santa 
Maria,"  was  only  ten  tons  register,  not  much  larger  than  a 
modern  tishing-sniack  I  It  may  then  well  i>e  believed  that 
the  voyages  of  these  men  surpassed  in  stupendous  daring 
and  bravery  any  of  our  exploits  of  later  times. 

One  other  writer  shall  bo  (pioted  before  entering  more  par- 
ticularly on  the  historical  part  of  this  work,  namely,  that 
line  old  English  sailor,  Captain  Kichard  Whit])ournc. 

To  no  other  of  the  early  navigators  do  the  sons  of  New- 
foundland owe  more  gratitude  than  to  this  hardy  old  West 


32 


ECCLESIASTICAL   HISTORY 


countryman.  Throughout  all  his  "  Narrative"  ho  breathes  the 
highest  religious  sentiments,  blended  with  an  ardent  and 
enthusiastic  love  for  "The  New-fbund-lande."  This  worthy- 
old  sea-captain,  l)etween  the  years  1579  and  1(U8,  made 
many  voyages  to  Newfoundland,  and  entered  alniost  every 
cove  and  har])or  on  her  shores.  In  the  preface  to  his  "Voy- 
age," etc.,  he  says,  "  And  for  the  Newfound  land',;,  it  is  almost 
so  familiarlie  known  to  me  as  my  owne  countvie."  He  was 
present  in  St.  John's  harbor  in  1583,  when  Sir  Humphrey 
Gilbert  took  possession  of  the  Island,  in  the  name  of  Queen 
Elizabeth,  of  which  event  he  tells  us  he  Avas  ";in  eyewit- 
nesse."  In  1015  he  came  out  with  a  commission  from  the 
High  Court  of  Admiralty,  giving  him  full  jurisdiction  over 
the  whole  island. 

"  And,"  says  he,  "  I  did  then  arrive  at  the  coast  of  Newfound 
lande,  in  the  Bay  of  Trinitie,  upon  Trinit'.o  Simday,  l)eing 
the  4  of  Jun(> ;  and  there  in  the  name  of  the  Holy  and 
Indiuiduall  Trinities,  began  the  use  of  Your  Most  Sacred 
Majestie's  power,  by  vertue  of  that  commission  to  send  forth 
a  precept,"  etc.  (p.  64). 

He  opened  the  tirst  eour*^  ever  held  in  Newfoundland, 
and  made  many  useful  enactinents.  He  has  written  an 
account  of  his  voyages  in  a  book,  now  very  rare,  addressed 
to  "The  High  and  Mightie  Prince  James,"  etc.,  with  a  very 
long  title,  conunencing  "A  Discourse  and  Discoverie,"  etc. 
He  urges  strongly  upon  His  Majesty  the  conversion  of  the 
Indians,  in  many  places,  as  page  l(i3:  .  .  .  "Which 
people,  if  they  might  be  reduced  to'  the  knowledge  of  the 
True  Trinitie  indeed  no  doubt  but  it  would  be  i  iriost  sweete, 
and  acceptable  Sacririce  to  God  ;  an  evevlastiML'  lioaour  to 
your  Majestic  ;  and  the  Ileaveidy  Blessing  t  )  those  poor 
creatures,  who  are  buried  in  their  own  superstitious  ignorance. 
The  taske  Avhereof  Avould  proove  easy,  and  no  doubt  but  God 
Himself  would  set  His  hand  to  reare  up  and  advance  so 
noble,  so  pious,  and  so  Christian  a  building."  Again,  page 
14:  "It  is  most  certain  that  by  a  plantation  there,  and  by 
that  means  only,  the  misbelieving  inhal)itants  of  that  country 


lI-.J 


OF   NKWFOUNDLAND. 


33 


may  be  reduced  from  Burharisine  to  the  kno\vled<;c  of  God 
and  the  light  of  His  Truth,  and  to  a  ciuil  and  regular  kind 
of  life  and  government.  This  is  a  thing  so  apparent  that  I 
need  not  enforce  it  any  further,  or  laI»our  to  stirro  up  the 
charity  of  Christians  therein,  to  gi>  3  their  furtherance 
towards  a  worke  so  pious,  every  man,  knowing  that  even  avo 
ourselves  were  once  as  blinde  as  they  in  the  knowledge  and 
w^orship  of  Our  Creator,  and  as  rude  and  savage  in  our  lines 
and  manners.  By  means  of  these  slender  beginnings,  which 
may  be  made  in  Newfound  lande,  all  other  regions  neere 
adjoining  thereunto  may  in  time  be  fitly  converted  to  the  true 
worship  of  God.  .  .  .  The  tirst  thing  which  is  to  be 
hoped  for  and  which  hath  beenc  your  Majestie's  jorincipall 
care  is  the  propagation  of  the  Christian  Faith. 
And  so  all  the  regions  adjoining  (which  betweene  this  place 
and  the  countries  ac'nxlly  possessed  by  King  of  Spain,  and 
to  the  North  of  Newfound  Lande  are  so  spacious  as  all 
Europe)  may  be  brought  to  the  Kingdom  of  God.'' 

These  are  noble  sentiments,  and  worthy  of  a  Columbus  or 
a  Champlain,  and  contrast  remarkably  with  those  of  that 
doughty  knight  of  Devon,  Sir  IIumi)hrey  Gilbert,  who,  on 
taking  possession  of  Newfoundland  (1583),  brought  no 
missioners  with  him,  but  a  royal  proclamation,  ordering  the 
Book  of  Conunon  Prayer  to  ])e  used  for  the  future  all  over 
the  Island;  and  decreeing  that  "Whosoever  should  violate 
this  command  should  loose  their  ears  ! "  Fortunately  for 
Newfoundland,  the  author  of  this  cruel  edict  perished  at 
sea  on  his  homeward  voyage,  and  thus  it  was  not  put  into 
practice. 

Since  those  who  have  up  to  the  present  time  written  what 
are  called  "Histories  of  Newfoundland  "  unite  in  one  loud 
piean  in  praise  of  Sir  Humphrey  Gilbert,  as  a  sample  of 
which  I  quote  the  following  from  the  latest  work  published, 
the  Rev.  Moses  Harvey's  "  History  "  :  "  Thus  perished  one  of 
the  noblest  and  bravest  of  those  who  in  that  aire,"  etc.  .  .  . 
"The  loss  to  Newfoundland  of  Sir  Humphrey  Gilbert  was 
great  and  irreparable,"  etc.  (p.  17)  ;  and  as  the  outcome  of 


ri 


34 


ECCLESIASTICAL   IIISTOilY 


this  sentiment  a  movement  was  set  on  foot  in  1883,  the  third 
centenary  of  his  death,  to  have  a  monument  erected  to  his 
memory,  — it  may  be  well,  once  for  all,  to  remove  this  false 
estimate,  and  place  this  hero  in  his  proper  niche,  as  regards 
what  we  Newfoundlanders  owe  to  his  memory.  This 
redoubtable  character,  then,  was  one  of  a  band  of  "Aristo- 
cratic freebooters,"  of  English  gentry,  who  received  patents 
from  Queen  Elizabeth  for  the  colonization  and  civilization  of 
Ireland  !  "Sir  Thos.  Smith,  the  secretary,  suggested  to  the 
queen  a  new  method  to  colonize  the  forfeited  districts  with 
English  settlers,  who,  having  an  interest  in  the  soil,  would  be 
willing  to  oppose  the  rebeU!  (Irish)  Avithout  expense  to  the 
Crown  !  .  .  .  Grants  of  large  territories  were  made  to 
them."  (Lingard,  Vol.  VIII.)  Among  these  filibustering 
adventurers  were  Sir  Humphrey  Gilbert  and  his  half-l)rother, 
Sir  Waller  Raleigh.  "The  consequence  was,"  continues  Lin- 
gard, quoting  from  Irish  authorities,  Leland,  Camden,  etc., 
"the  districts  which  they  took  possession  of  were  reduced  to 
the  state  of  a  wilderness,  by  endless  destructive  wars."  Some 
small  force  was  organized  in  Spain  by  Fitzniaurice,  l)rother 
of  the  Earl  of  Desmond,  for  the  relief  of  Ireland.  They 
landed  at  Smerwick,  in  Kcu'ry,  but  were  overwhelmed  by 
superior  numl)ers.  lieing  attacked  by  land  and  sea,  they  sur- 
rendered conditionally,  nanu'ly,  that  they  ..hould  be  allowed 
to  retire  in  order,  lint  Kalcigh,  breaking  his  parole,  "  entered 
the  fort,  received  their  arms,  and  then  ordered  them  to  be 
massacred  in  cold  blood."  (Lingard.)  Gilbert  overran 
(lalway  and  the  neighboring  counties,  striking  terror  into  all 
hearts  by  liis  indiscriminate  slaughter  of  all  wlio  came  in  his 
way,  without  regard  to  age  or  sex.  For  these  services  he 
was  rewarded,  in  l.')70,  by  knightiiood  and  the  governorship 
of  Munster !  Barcia,  a  Spanish  copyist,  in  his  "  Ensayo 
Cronologico,"  speaking  of  his  death,  says  :  "  He  was  jjunished 
for  his  greed." 

Bancroft  (Vol.  1.,  Chap.  IH.),  though  trying  to  speak  in  his 
favor,  yet  admits  he  was  "censured  for  his  ignorance  of  the 
principles  of  religious  freedom."  He  took  possession  of  St. 


* 


J- 


OF   NEWFOUNDLAND. 


85 


John's,  and  a  territory  extending  two  hundred  Icajrues  in 
every  direction,  with  "  feudal  rights."  A  turf  and  a  rod  were 
presented  to  him.  He  framed  three  hiws  :  "  Isl.  Estah- 
lishin<r  the  religion  aceordini«;  to  the  Liturav  of  tlie  Book 
of  Connnon  Prayer.  2d.  Dechiring  it  liigh  treason  to 
plot  against  Her  Majesty's  Government ;  and,  Sd.  De- 
creeing that  whosoever  siiould  utter  a  word  of  dishonor 
against  Her  Majesty  should  have  his  ears  cut  oJfV  A  pillar 
of  wood  was  erected  on  the  shore,  with  the  Arms  of  England, 
engraved  in  lead,  attached  thereto,  and  the  land  by  the 
seaside  parcelled  out  into  separate  lots,  tli(>  proi)rietors  con- 
senting to  pay  an  annual  tribute  for  the  same.  (Harris' 
"  Travels."     Chapell,  "  Voyage  of  Kosanumd,"  etc. ) 

Some  tifty  years  previous,  when  Jac([ues  ('artier  took 
possession  of  Bay  Chaleur,  we  read  tiiat  he  erected,  not  a 
pillar,  but  a  cross,  with  the  Arms  of  France,  thus  taking 
possession,  first,  in  the  name  of  the  Christian  faith,  and, 
secondly,  of  the  eai'thly  monarch  of  whom  he  was  a  subject. 

This  was  the  beginning  and  end  of  Humphrey  Gilbert's 
connection  with  Xewfoundlaiid.  He  was  lost  on  his  home- 
ward voyage.  Imi)artial  readers  can  judge  for  themselves 
how  nuich  gratitude  we  o\\i\  him.' 

It  was  in  the  year  KUi)  that  Whitboui'ue  wrote  his  appeal 
to  Kin"'  James,  ur<>ino;  the  sendinir  out  of  missioners  to 
convert  the  savages.  He  seems  to  have  been  (entirely 
ignorant  of  the  fact  that,  sonu'  years  previously  (Kill  and 
101.')),  both  Jesuit  and  Franciscan  fathers  had  bcu'ii  brought 
out  from  France  to  the  neighboring  colonies,  as  we  shall  see 
farther  on. 

It  was  just  about  this  lime,  namely,  in  the  year  l(i22, 
when  the  develoinnent  of  geographical  research  was  daily 
opening  up  new  countries,  that  Pope  Gregoi-y  XV.,  true  to 
the  traditions  of  the  Catholic  Church  and  her  diviu(!  mission 


'  If  the  (|\icstioii  of  a  inDiiuiiiuiit  wore  \n  l)c  iiiiscd  (ami  I  loiij^toscc  the  vacant  iiiclio 
oil  the  I,()l)l)y  of  the  Colonial  lliiildin;^  at  St.  .loliu's  fiUeil),  oiir  first  itelit  of  gratitude 
should  douhtlcss  be  paid  to  the  Cahots;  but  after  these  no  man  deserves  better  of  the 
country  than  f,'ood  old  Sir  llichard  Whitboiirne. 


30 


ECCLESIASTICAL  HISTORY 


1! 

i 

i 

1 
i 

'. 

1 
1 

to  "  go  and  tciich  all  nations,"  established  the  Congregation 
of  the  Propaganda  Fideni  Rome.  This  institution  consisted^ 
at  Hrst,  of  a  Connnittee  or  Congregation  of  Cardinals,  whose 
express  duty  it  was  to  take  eharge  of  the  workings  of  the 
foreign  missions.  The  business  had  beeomc  so  immense, 
of  the  founding  of  new  missions  in  the  distant  and  uneivilized 
countries  brought  to  light  by  the  great  discoverers,  that  it 
was  found  necessary  to  establish  a  particular  bureau.  A  few 
years  afterwards  (ir)27),  under  Pojje  Frl)an  VIII.,  the 
Missionary  College  of  Proi)agan(la  wsis  formed  in  connection 
with  the  Congregation,  in  which  a  free  education  is  given 
to  some  two  hundred  and  fifty  students  from  all  nations. 
During  the  past  two  and  a  half  centuries  the  work  of  this  Con- 
gregation has  grown  to  such  an  extent  that  it  has  its  missions 
in  every  corner  of  the  glol)e.  It  has  at  prc^sent  four 
hundred  and  tifty  provinces  in  I)oth  hemispheres,  in  wliich 
are  about  fifty  thousand  churches,  and  about  one  hundred 
thousand  priests  and  Bishops.  In  America  alone  some  thirty 
thousand  schools,  with  half  a  million  of  children,  are  conducted 
by  priests  and  nuns,  under  the  supervision  of  Propaganda  ; 
in  Canada  four  thousand  schools,  and  in  India  and  Chiim 
two  thousand,  with  nearly  one  hundred  tli()usan<l  children. 
There  are  about  Hfty-tive  different  languages  and  dialects 
spoken  by  the  students  within  its  walls:  Ixil,  to  prevent  a 
Bal)el,  they  are  restricted  during  school  and  study  houi's  to 
the  Italian  and  Latin. 

It  is  not  necessary  to  remind  our  readers  that  the  modern 
Italian  CJovcrnment,  under  the  oft-prostituted  name  of  Lih- 
I'rttj  and  Proriret<x^  has  plundered  with  saeiilegious  hand  the 
funded  property  of  this  "  World's  Institution." 


OF  NEWFOUNDLAND. 


37 


CHAPTER  II. 


PRK-COLUMHrAN  VOYAGES.— [A.D.   800-1497.] 


', 


iP*'' 


Tniditions  of  :i  Wostcni  Liintl  —  Propliury  of  Sciicca  —  Seneca  ami  ColuniliiH,  u 
Coiiiciclciice  —  I'lato's  "^Vtlautis" —  Voya;;o  of  .St.  Brendan  —  St.  Malo — C'alluilic 
Missions  in  Iceland  —  The  Flllto  Safra,  A.D.  800  —  Discovery  of  Greenland  by 
Gnnbiivrn,  880  —  Kedi?  ivery  l)y  Eric  IJand,  980 — Discovery  of  America  l)y 
Bjarni,  98.") —  Labrador,  Xcwroiuidland,  Xova  Scotia,  Discovered  by  Lief,  1000 
—  It  Myla,  or  (Jreal  Ireland  —  Vestij.'-es  of  an  Irish  t^jlony  in  America —  Kpiscopal 
Sees  in  (jJrccnlaiid,  1()"21  to  140(1  —  Voyage  of  Zeno,  1.'580  —  llelies  of  .lolin  Guy's 
Colony  a*  Ciiper's  Cove,  or  Cupid's. 

rpiIE  Catholic  Cliiirch  ha.-  always  displayed,  in  a  niarkod 
-■-  manner,  as  already  remarked,  the  active  spirit  of  mis- 
sionary enterprise,  so  that  whenever  a  new  land  was  discov- 
ered we  tind  the  missionary  hearing  the  cross  and  preaching 
the  gospel  among  the  aljorigines. 

There  are  many  vague  traditions  atloat  concerning  a  pre- 
Cohimhian  discovery  ot"  the  New  A\'orid  :  hut  it",  as  is  now 
almost  certain,  there  were  any  tbiindalion  of  truth  in  these 
recollections,  it  is  no  less  certain  that  all  authentic  records 
of  them  had  been  lost,  so  that  they  do  not  in  any  way  detract 
from  the  glory  of  Columbus'  discovery. 

The  great  navigator,  however,  had  made  some  voyag(-s  to 
Iceland,  where,  no  tloubt,  he  nuist  have  heard  the  tales  of  the 
discovery  of  western  lands,  and  been  tired  with  the  ambition 
of  rediscovering  them.  P)ut  it  is  certain  that  Columbus 
never  knetc  that  he  had  discovered  a  new  continent,  but  died 
in  the  beliiif  that  he  had  come,  by  a  short  route,  upon  the 
eastern  shores  of  Asia. 

It  is  only  natural  that  people  living  upon  the  borders  of 
the  great  ocean,  looking  out  daily  across  its  boundless  waste, 
and  seeing  its  huge  billows  roll  in  one  after  anotluir  with 
ceaseless  nuirnmr,  should  beuin  to  wonder  whence  thev 
come,  and  to  picture  to  themselves  some  far-otf  land  })eoi)led 


!i 


38 


ECCLESIASTICAL  HISTORY 


;  t 


by  u  strauf^o  nice  of  hoinus,  and  that  the  Iioijg  should  sj)ring 
up  in  tlieir  nihids  tliat  the  day  would  eonie  when  man,  by  the 
tritnn})li  of  genius  and  tah'nt,  should  penetrate  this  vast, 
unknown  abyss,  and  brin<>:  to  lii>ht  the  New  World  ! 

Such  were  the  thouuhls  which  tilled  the  mind  of  the  phil- 
osophic Seneca,  as  he  paced  the  statcdy  2)hiz((K  of  the  noble 
city  of  Cordova,  or  roamed  pensive  alonu'  the  sands  of  the 
little  village  of  Palos,  at  the  moutii  of  the  Guadalcjuivir, 
looking  out  upon  the  wide  Atlantic,  and  wliich  li(>  lianded 
down  to  fame  in  the  immortal  i)rophecy  of  the  Medica, 
''  l^em'ent  annia  scecida  .sfy/.s,"  etc.  For,  by  a  remarkable 
coincidence,  SencH-a,  who  foretold,  so  many  centuries  before, 
the  voyage  of  ('oiuml)us,  uudi-r  the  symbolical  name  of 
Typhis,  was  a  native  of  Cordova,  that  royal  city  where 
C'oluml)us  tirst  exposed  his  great  design  to  the  Court  of 
Ferdinand  and  Isabella  :  and  it  is  not  improl)able  that  these 
memorable  verses  were  composed  ujjon  the  very  spot  wln-re 
(some  tifteen  hundred  years  after)  (-oluml)us  walktid  around, 
with  his  faithfid  and  enthusiastic  friend  and  sup])()rter.  Friar 
fluau  ]*erez,  making  pre})arations  for  his  great  expedition,  by 
which  he  was  to  fultil  the  prophecy  of  Seneca  1)V  "unloosing 
the  bonds  of  things,  and  giving  to  the  world  a  JYrir  Ovh,''' 
and  thus  depi'iving  "Far  Thule  "  of  the  honor  or  fame  of 
being  "the  last  among  the  Lands"  I 

Again,  Seiu-ea  was  learned  in  all  the  wisdom  of  those  days, 
and  Cordova  was  then  a  seat  'of  education  and  civilization  and 
retinement.  It  possessed  a  library  of  great  extent,  contain- 
ing volumes  and  manuscrijjts  of  the  rarest  value.  Ili'rc  he 
may  ha\e  read  the  wondrous  account  of  Phito's  Atlantic 
island,  in  which  is  distiiu'tly  foresluulowed  the  Great  AN'estern 
Continent,  "the  o])posite  Continent  which  surrounds  the 
Great  Ocean."  'i'his  account  Plato  wrote  400  15. C.  lie 
received  it  from  his  ancestor,  Solon,  wdio,  600  li.C'.,  had 
learned  it  from  the  wise  men  of  the  city  of  Sais  in  Egypt. 
(Plato's  "  Atlantis."  Donnelley.)  Thus  we  see  how  great  is 
the  antiijuity  of  the  tradition  concerning  the  Western  "*'    /rid. 

Ireland,   being   the    most    westerly    laud  of  Kuroj)e,   and- 


OF   NEWFOUNDLAND. 


39 


, 


1 


placed,  as  she  is,  out  upon  tlio  bosom  of  the  Athmtie,  has 
naturally  rotaiiu'd  many  of  those  traditions  most  vividly. 
Amoniif  them  the  most  constant  and  wide-spread  is  that  of 
the  voyage  of  Saint  Brendan,  in  the  beginning  of  the  sixth 
century.  Divested  of  various  romantic  accessories  the  story 
runs  thus  :  Brendan,  or  Brandon,  son  of  Findloga,  was  born 
in  484  ;  went  to  Wales  ;  lived  under  Saint  Gildas  at  Shan- 
Carvan ;  afterwards  founded  the  Monastery  of  Clonfert. 
Beryne,  or  Barintluis,  a  holy  abbot,  and  cousin  of  Brendan, 
canu!  to  visit  him,  and  told  him  a  mouU  of  his  monastery 
"determined  to  sa^de  into  an  ylonde  farreinto  the  sea  besides 
the  mountaynes  of  stones,  and  with  Xll.  monkcs,  set  sailo 
in  ii  vessell  vytalled  for  \'II.  Yeares.  But  ere  they  entcued 
the  Sln'i»pe  they  fasted  XL.  days  and  lived  devoutly,  and 
eehe  of  them  reeeyvcd  the  Sacrament.  He  badde  the 
Shyi)i)e-men  wynde  uppe  the  sayle,  and  forth  they  sayled  in 
Croddes  name.  After  XF^.  days  and  XL.  nights  they  saw^ 
ylonde  ferre  fro  them,  but  it  proved  to  be  only  a  great  iisshe 
named  lasconye  ; "  i)ut  after  three  days  more  they  found  land 
in  earnest.  This  tradition  is  sui)[)lemcnted  by  other  nations 
bordering  on  the  xVtIantic,  ^.f/.,  at  St.  ^lalo,  in  France,  so 
called  from  ]\Iacl()vius,  or  Alacluthus.  a  nephew  of  Brendan. 
In  the  life  of  this  saint  by  dolm  liosco,  in  tiu'  '' liibliotiieca 
Floriacense,"  it  is  stated  that  lu;  determined  to  go  and  visit 
an  island  situated  in  the  ocean,  and  named  Iman.  lie  took 
ninety-tive  companions  with  him,  and  remained  seven  years 
away,  so  that  they  c(debrated  seven  Easters  at  sea:  "  Sepfics 
contlglt  ei.s  in  viari  celehvare  Sctnctuin  T*asf/ta." 

It  is  related  in  the  Acts  of  St.  David  of  Wales,  that,  riding 
one  day  upon  a  whale,  he  met  St.  Brendan  sitting  on  a 
sea-horse  [inxidens  equo  mari).  The  BoUandists  exj)lain 
these  leuends  bv^  sayini>'  that  this  may  onlv  be  a  romantic  or 
poetic  way  of  describing  their  shii)s,  which  might  have  had 
these  names,  or  emblems,  or  signs,  as  marks  of  distinction. 
Whatever  may  be  thought  of  it,  these  stories  seem  to  i)oint 
to  a  ■wide-spread  tradition  of  the  existence  of  a  western 
continent.      Add  to  this  the  constant  b(>lief  of  the  Norsemen 


i  I 


40 


.ESIASTICAL    IIISTOHV 


t'roin  locla.  svho  doclarod  that,  on  the  discovery  of 
America  by  tlioin  in  the  ninth  eentury,  they  found  there  a 
colony  of  Irish  I  The  historian  Col<^an  mentions,  without 
the  expression  of  a  doubt,  the  voyaiic  of  St.  Brendan,  A.I). 
500.  One  of  the  first  l)o<)ks  printed  by  Caxton,  in  Enuland, 
was  this  "Voyaue,'*  siiowiui;  how  popular  it  was  at  that 
tinu' ;  that  is,  shortly  bcfoi'e  Columbus'  discoveiy.  The 
Society  of  Northern  Antiquaries  at  Copenha«>en  also  in- 
serted it  anioui!;  their  collection  of  pre-Columbian  voyasjes, 
in  1837.  Professor  Kafn  also  contirms  tlie  tradition,  and 
Dr.  A'on  T.  Schudi,  in  his  Avork  on  "  Peruvian  Antiquities," 
says  that  it  is  "  most  probal)Ie  "  that  the  country  which  lay 
alonsr  the  coast  from  Chesai)eake  15ay,  down  into  the  Caro- 
linas  and  Florida,  was  peopled  by  Irishmen.  And  in  a  note 
he  says  that  ''  a  manuscript  has  l)een  found  since  he  com- 
menced his  work  which  converted  the  conjecture  into  a  cer- 
tainty." IIumI)<)]dt,  in  liis  ''  Kosmos,"  confirms  the  tradition. 
In  the  twelfth  century  an  Arabian  gcoirrapher,  Aboul  Ab- 
dullah jMohanuned  Edrisi,  nu'utions  "Great  Ireland."  He 
Avrote  at  Palermo  in  Sicily,  a  i)()rt  frequented  by  the  North- 
men, from  whom,  doubtless,  he  obtained  his  information. 

AVe  have  it  oi»  undouI)ted  authority  that  Irish  missions 
were  established  in  Iceland  even  in  the  time  of  St.  Patrick 
(fifth  century),  when  St.  Aiblcms,  Bishop  of  Endy,  sent 
twenty-two  of  his  disciples  to  evangelize  that  country.  Eiiiht 
Irish  missionaries  and  martyrs  were  buried  there,  and  a 
church  was  erected,  dedicated  to  St.  ColumI)a.  These  facts, 
now  admitted  by  the  best  archivologists,  were  found  related 
in  the  Skalhort  Scuja,  now  ])reservod  in  the  Smithsonian 
*  Institute,  AVashinnton.  From  the  BtilJavium  Po)i(iJicu)n,  a 
collection  of  the  decrees  of  the  Popes,  we  find  that,  in  the 
year  840,  the  Holy  See  delegated  Ebbon,  Archbishoj)  of 
Kheims,  and  St.  Anscarius,  apostle  of  Northern  Europe,  to 
preach  the  faith  in  Iceland  and  JVorfh  America. 

The  Icelandic  Sagas,  or  Legends  (f<a;/aii,  to  tell  or  say), 
discovered  in  a  nu)nastery  at  the  Island  of  Fliito,  in  the 
Brede  Fiord,  on  the  north-west  coast  of  Iceland,  in  l(J50,give 


OK    NKWFOUNDLAND. 


41 


. 


US  ill!  that  is  known  of  th(^  history  of  those  northern  explora- 
tions. The  principal  saiifi  is  \\\{.\  FUttni/ev  Ainial ,  or  Cochix 
Fliitoyensis.  It  was  purciiased  from  tlie  ownei",  Jonas 
I'orfesen,  for  King  Frederic  III.,  hy  Bishoj)  Swench'son,  of 
Skalliolt.  It  is  a  large  folio  manuscript,  l»eautifiilly  written 
on  parchment,  and  contains  a  collection  of  sagas  copied 
from  older  writings.  (KirUe,  "  ('onipiest  of  Cana(hi,"  p.  5)1).) 
It  was  written  hetwi  mi  1387  and  i;»i)").  It  is  now  preserved 
in  the  royal  lil)rary  at  Copenhagen.  It  is  divided  into  two 
parts,  or  cantos  —  the  Eric  Hand  and  the  Kdrlxfenc.  From 
it  we  learn  that  Iceland  was  discovered,  about  8(50,  by  a 
Danish  navigator,  named  Naddod.  He  called  it  Snieland 
or  Snow  land.  In  8(j4,  another  X(/.senian,  Crardar  Svaf- 
farson,  was  driven  there  by  a  storm.  He  called  the  eoui.  "v 
(Jardai'"s  Iloim,  or  (iardar's  Island.  Finally  Fliiko  gave  it 
the  name  of  Iceland,  which  it  still  retains. 

Greenland  was  discovered,  in  886,  by  Gunbiau'n,  and  was 
called  GunbjanrsKocks  until  about  a  century  later  (980).  It 
was  rediscovered  by  Eric  Kaud,  who  had  tied  there  on 
account  of  sonu'  family  dispute  concerning  the  succession  to 
tlu!  government  of  Iceland.  He  determined  to  found  a  col- 
ony of  his  own,  and,  in  order  to  induce  settlers  to  come,  he, 
by  a  clever  piece  of  diplomacy,  gave  the  country  the  name  of 
Grten-land,  "because,"  said  he,  "  peo})le  will  be  attracted 
thither  if  it  has  a  good  name." 

About  tiiree  or  four  years  after  the  establishment  of  the 
colony  of  (Jreenland  (namely,  i'S')),  Bjarni,  son  of  Ilerjulf, 
.saw  for  the  tirst  time  the  main-laud  of  America.  On  a 
voyage  from  Iceland  to  Greenland  he  was  driven  westwards 
b}'  a  storm.  He  saw  land  three  times  on  his  return  east- 
wards, but  he  did  not  go  ashore  or  name  these  lands.  But, 
about  the  year  1000,  his  brother  Lief  made  the  same 
voyage  and  discovered  the  same  lands.  The  tirst  he  called 
Great  Ilelluland,  or  Great  Stone  Land,  supi)Osed  to  be 
Labrador ;  next.  Little  Ilelluland,  which  is  supposed  to  be 
Newfoundland,  It  is  described  as  "A  land  without  grass. 
Snow  and  ice  covered  it,  and  from  the  shore  to  the  mountains 


42 


ECCLESIASTICAl.   HISTOKV 


it  was  a  plain  or  Hat  covered  with  stones,  and  he  <;ave  it  tho 
name  of  Ilelhi-iand,"  tVojn  Ilelhi  or  Ilella,  a  stone.  "Then 
lie  discovered  Mark  Lan<l,  and  called  it  so  from  its  woods 
(snpposed  to  he  Nova  Scotia). 

"Aft(!r  this  he  coasted  south  and  west,  and  discovered 
Vinlaiid  (su|)poscd  lo  hv,  Rhode  Island,  near  Mount  Hope 
]{ay,  or  Xarrairanselt),  where  Avild  vines  jrrow  ahundantly. 
In  the  tbllowinir  years  voyages  were  made  by  sev(U'al  other 
of  these  Norsemen  along  the  shores  of  the  .\merican  conti- 
nent, and  various  strangt;  stories  are  told  of  their  ex})eriences. 
In  1004  Thorwald,  son  of  Eric,  was  kidtul  by  the  Indians 
and  buried  ni'ar  Massachusetts.  A  voyage  was  made  by 
Thorstein  in  100').  In  lOOl!  the  celebrated  Karlsfene 
founded  a  colony  in  ^farkland  and  II(dlu-land,  liringing  with 
him  one  hundred  and  forty  men  and  women  ;  but,  owing  to 
the  attacks  of  the  Indians,  they  withdrew  in  1010.  The 
Northmen  called  the  land  south  of  \'inland  It  ^lyla  or  Great 
Ireland,  or  the  White  Man's  Land.  According  to  Professor 
I\afn,  a  great  Scandinavian  authority,  this  country  extended 
from  thci  Chesaj)eake  Bay  to  Kast  Florida.  It  was  said  that 
when  first  discovered  by  the  Norsemen  it  was  inhabited  by  a 
tribe  of  white  men  '  who  spoke  Irish.'  .  .  .  And  they 
found  on  the  shore  crosses,  bells,  and  sacred  vessels  of  Irish 
Avorkmanship."  (./.  Gthaarij  SJiPiCs  Lecture  before  (he 
Catholic  Imtitute,  Xeir  York,   18^)2.) 

"It  is  very  improbabh',"  writes  Dr.  jMullock  {Lectures  on 
JVeirfoKiidJand,  p.  G),  "that  so  many  accounts  of  voyages 
would  be  i)reserved  ;  the  names  of  the  discoverers  and  navi- 
gators ;  the  births  of  some  of  their  children  recorded;  the 
wreck  of  one  of  their  shi[)s  on  Keeler  Ness,  Kell  Capo  or 
Ship  Cove,  and  the  locality  marked  out  now  as  Keels,  in 
Bonavista  Bay,  by  tho  certain  but  rud(!  Avay  of  detiu'inining  the 
latitude  :  that  is,  the  length  of  the  longest  day  in  the  summer 
solstice,'  — if  it  were  all  a  work  of  imagination.  1  have  no 
doubt  that  these    sea-kings,    after    establishing    colonies  in 


•  Ou  the  shortest  day  in  the  Scandinavian  Caleudiir  the  sun  rose  7.30  A.M.,  and  set 
4.30  r.M. — ■Hist,  America,  William  Ciilleii  Bryant. 


OF   NEWFOUNDLAND. 


43 


(rrot'iiliind  and  Ireland,  visited  this  countrv  and  made  some 
scUlcmciils  luTc  ;  I)iit  I  hi'lic'vc  the  fc^v  [jeople  tlu'V  brouifht 
with  them  eithei"  perished  in  tiieir  wars  witli  the  Skroe- 
li<jrers,  or  the  Es(|uiiiiatix,  or  that  the  r(!innaiit  h't't  the 
countrv,  whieh  they  eonhl  not  then  hav(^  found  wvy  invitin«r. 
In  the  year  dXi).  as  mentioned,  Erie  diseovt^red  Greenhind. 
Christianity  was  introchiced  soon  after,  and  it  heeaino  the  See 
of  ii  Bisho[)  in  1021.  The  historians  of  ancient  ffreenland 
give  i".  Hst  of  the  liishops  of  tiiat  country  from  1021  to 
140(5,  when  all  connnunicalion  helween  it  and  th(^  mother- 
country  ceased,  and  the  iniijcrfect  civilization  introduced  was 
finally  lost.  A  few  ruins  of  walls  or  stones  fences  now 
mark  the  site  of  the  Norwegian  colony."  (Dr.  Mullock's  MS. ) 
Abbe  fJarnier  mentions  a  Bull  of  Pope  Nicholas  V.,  of  date 
about  1447,  concerniniT  this  church  of  GrecMdand.  But  on 
searching  the  /iulldrliim  in  the  Propaganda  Lil)rary,  Home, 
in  1885,  I  could  not  find  it.  "We  are  told  that  oiu)  of  the 
Greenland  Bishops,  named  Eric,  visited  Vinland  in  1121,  to 
endeavor  to  bring  back  his  countrymen  from  the  barbarism 
into  which  they  had  lapsed  to  a  knowledge  of  Christianity. 
The  kings  of  Xorway  wen^  the  founders  of  the  Greenland 
bislu»i)ric,  which  extended  its  jurisdi<'tion  ovc^r  tlu^  regions  of 
the  unknown  North.  If  Newfoundland  and  \'inland  l)e  the 
same,  this  is  the  first  account  we  have  of  any  missioner 
putting  his  foot  on  tlu^  Island  ;  though,  if  a  Bisho})di(l  really 
visit  it,  other  priests  nuist  have  j)receded  him.  We  can, 
however,  tlirouiih  the  mist  of  aijes,  onlv  collect  a  few 
scattered  facts  intermingled  with  much  fable."  (Dr.  Mul- 
lock.) These  colonies  on  the  west  coast  of  Greenland 
survived  until  14()(!,  Avhen  the  seventeenth  and  last  Bishop 
of  Garda  was  sent  from  Norway.  Those  on  the  ea>t 
flourished  till  I.tU),  when  they  were  destroyed  by  a  physical 
cataclasm,  which  accumulated  the  ice  in  that  zone  from  tiu; 
()Oth  degree  of  latitude.  (DcCourcy,  "  History  of  the  Church 
in  America,"'  Cha}).  I.,  p.  12.) 

A  few  years   ago    some   ruins  were  brought  to  light  at 
Clarke's    Beach,   near    Brigus,   in   Concei)tion   Bay,  N.F., 


' 


44 


ECCLESIASTICAL    IIISTOKV 


Miuoiiix  which  w(M'('  found  soino  oM  Kuropoan  irold  coins 
with  (iciinim  lotlcrs,  some  of  copper  wiliioiil  inscription,  aiitl 
sonic  mill-stones.  'I'hey  wci'c^  lho(n::iil  lo  he  tlie  reniains  of  ii 
Scandinavian  .settlement,  thou;i'h  it  now  seems  placed  heyond 
a  doubt  tlmt  these  relii-s  must  ho  attrihuted  to  tho  Enulisii 
settlers  wiio  came  out,  in  1(510,  with  John  Guy,  from  JJristol. 
It  had  hitherto  jiassed  current  in  thi^  published  histories  of 
Newfoundland  that  this  plantation  was  settled  at  Mos(iuito  ; 
i)ut  the  idea  has  now  been  exploded  by  the  researches  of 
fl.  1*.  Ilowley,  Ksip,  F.G.iS.,  who  has  published  the  charted', 
and  some  letters  from  John  druy  to  .Mr.  Slaney,  dated  from 
Cuper's  Cove,  lOtli  May,  Kill:  "The  name,  T'o  most 
others  on  our  t-harts,  became  corrupted,  or,  rather,  in  this 
instance,  I  should  say  iiiiprored,  i\nd  this  nmst  ha\e  occurred 
at  an  early  date.  ...  A  work  puldished  in  1  ().■)()  l)y  Sir 
AVilliam  Alexander  .  .  .  has  as  follows:  The  tirst 
houses  ,  .  .  were!  built  in  CKpitVs  Cove,"  etc.  (J.  P. 
Ilowley.)  It  is  most  i)robal)le,  then,  that  the  establishment  at 
Clarke's  IJeach  may  have  been  an  olfshoot  of  this  settlement. 
Befon;  coming  to  the  luidoubted  historical  })eriod  of  the 
Cabots  I  shall  mention  one  more  of  thosi^  semimythicai 
traditions,  vi/.,  the  voyaue  of  the  brothers  Zeno,  A'enetians. 
This  expedition  is  said  to  have  taken  i)lace  in  the  year  l;580, 
or  more  than  a  century  i)revious  to  the  disc  very  of  America 
by  Columbus.  But  what  throws  sus))icioii  upon  its  authen- 
ticity is  that  the  account  was  not  published  till  I'slS,  orsi.xt^ 
years  after  Columbus'  voyage.  To  account  for  this  damag- 
ing circumstance  Zeno  staled  that  the  manuscript  had  come 
to  him  as  a  family  lu'irloom  ;  that  when  a  child  he  had  torn 
it  up,  but  afterwards,  recognizing  its  value,  he  had  collected 
the  fragments  and  gummed  them  together.  The  documents 
relate,  after  many  other  voyages,  that  the  Zenos  made  a  voy- 
age northward,  and  arrived  at  a  land  named  Frisland,  the  king 
of  which  was  called  Ziclunni.  Thence  they  sailed  to  Kngro- 
niland,  where  they  discovered  a  monastery  of  Friar  Prea(!hers 
{i.e.,  monks  of  the  Order  of  St.  Dominie),  and  a  church 
dedicated  to  that  saint.     It  is  stated  that  the  monks  heated 


'' 


OV   NKWFOUNDLANP 


45 


their  Mp.'irtnionls  l>y  wiilcr,  fVoni  !i  hot  spriiijr,  which  they 
hroiiglit  l»y  pipes  lo  mII  their  i-ooins.  They  also  niude  uso 
ot"  it  tor  eookiiiu',  heatiiiir  tlieir  aitilieial  iranleiis,  etc.,  so  that 
they  liacl  fpiite  a  trojjical  and  trnil-l)earin;L(  coiiservalory. 
Mention  is  made  of  a  land  farther  west,  called  Kstotiland,  and 
supposinl  to  bo  N(nvt'()undland  ;  and  Drogeo,  the  niaiidand 
of  America;  und,  finally,  an  iniauiiiary  land  called  Icaria. 
A  nia})  aecoin])anicH  the  doennicnt. 


THE  NJRTH  ATLANTIC    OCEAN.    By  Antonio  ZerwMOO. 


/.KNOS    .MA1>, 


The  introduction  of  Gi'ecian  inytholouy,  as  shown  in  the 
name  Icaria,  from  Icarus,  son  of  Dsedalus,  is  very  suspicious, 
and  throws  an  air  of  for<jfery  over  tiie  whole  narrative.  The 
above  facts  and  traditions,  uatiiered  from  various  sources,  con- 
tain nearly  all  that  is  yet  known  of  these  [)re-("oluml)ian  voy- 
ages; 'AS  yet  the  knowiedge  is  meairre  and  unsatistactory 
enousxh,  but,  putting  it  altogether,  it  is  almost  im[)ossible  to 
doubt  that  the  eastern  world  was  at  one  time  cognizant  of  the 


46 


ECCLESIASTICAL   HISTORY 


existence  of  ii  western  land,  tlioujrli  the  tmdition  hiid  been  all 
hut  lost.  AVe  now  come  into  more  certain  waters,  and  shall 
connnence  the  next  cliai)ter  with  the  second  discovery  of 
Newfoundland,  under  the  Cal)ots  ;  thouirh  here,  too,  all  is  not 
as  clear  as  we  should  wish,  especially  reiTJU'ding  the  religious 
comi)lexion  of  the  times,  which  is  the  more  immediate  object 
of  these  pages. 


OF   NEWFOUNDLAND. 


47 


CIIAITEK    III, 


COI.UMin  S   AXD    HIS    I'OLLOWKHS. -[H!)2-l.-)34.] 

Discovury  (if  \o\vl'()mi(lluiiil  by  Cabot  —  Ciil»)t's  .\rii]i  Shown  to  1)(;  Tiiiiiiiered  witb  — 
'i"ho  Name  Jkiccaliio  —  lMk:  of  Karly  Missionary — C'ortoreul  —  Map  of  N'arrt'si' 
from  the  Vatican  —  .St.  .John's  i)C(i)incs  Important,  1527  —  The  Aboi'i;;incs  — 
Their  Nunu'  ncothucK — IJnlhlcssly  Slinl  down — Tlicir  Cbaiiu'ti'r,  1'cdiyion,  clc. — 
]Oarly  Maps  of  tlip  Connliy  —  Ma|i  of  .Icidnio  A'era/zano,  l."rJ,S  —  Of  Kilicro,  l.VJ!)  — 
Ancient  Map  in  Horj;'ian  Miisouni,  I'ro|i;i^'aMila — •  "  Dividin;;'  Line"  (hawn  by 
Tope  Ale\and<r  VI.,  UiW. 


^piIE  Italian  iiaviirator  Coliimlxis,  sailiDir  uiulor  the  Spaii- 
A  isli  flag,  discovered  America  in  141)2,  and  uave  a  new 
world  to  Castile  and  Leon.  Tiiis  astomidinii"  discovers,  the 
most  important  in  its  results  to  mankind  of  any  that  e\  er  took 
place,  rai.sed  not  alone  the  curiosity  and  excited  the  adventur- 
ous spirit  of"  Eur()p(\  hut  also  the  ainl)ition  of  h(>r  rulers. 
England  was  then  enjoying  one  of  those  intervals  of  internal 
peace  so  rare  in  her  history.  The  AVars  of  the  Hoses  were 
at  an  end;  the  anci<Mit  aristocracy  had  ahnost  perished  in 
these  destructive  contests,  which  is  the  reason  that,  with  few 
exceptions,  tlu;  present  aristocracy  of  England  is  the  most 
modern  in  Europe,  most  of  the  great  houses  only  dating  from 
the  so-called  Reformation,  and  enriched,  not  like  the  hold 
harons  of  old,  by  the  strong  hand,  hut  by  the  [jlunder  of  the 
Church,  and  chicanery.  The  royal  ])()wer,  as  invariably  hap- 
pens after  revolutions,  Mas  strengthened  :  tlie  peo[)le,  weary 
of  bloodshed,  only  wanted  repose,  and.  having  lost  their 
liberty,  were  prepared  to  sul)mil  to  tiie  despotism  of  the 
Tudor  Sultans.  Two  Venetian  navigators, —  though  some  say 
they  were  the  sons  of  a  Venetian,  but  born  in  Bristol,  —  the 
brothers  Cabota,  or,  :ingiicized,  Cabot,  ollei'ed  their  services 
to  Henry  VII.  to  seek  for  new  lauds  in  the  west,  or  a  |)assage 
by  that  course  to  India.  The  oiler  was  accepted,  and  in 
1497  Sebastian  Cabot  left  England,  and  on  the  'JOth  of  June. 


i 


48 


ECCLESIASTICAL  IIISTOHY 


the  .saino  year,  discovered  Newfoundland.  He  gave  the 
name  of  Bnona  Vinfa,  or  Ilappi/  Siffht,  to  the  cape  which 
first  met  his  view,  —  a  name  whicli,  togetiier  with  the  great 
bay  of  whicli  it  forms  the  southern  headland,  it  retains  to 
the  present  day/'     ( Dr.  Mullock's  ^IS. ) 


i 

'f 

J  J 


There  is  an  impenetrable  mist  and  confusion  (emblematic, 
perhaps,  of  the  f /g  that  hangs  over  our  (Jreat  Bank)  envelop- 
ing the  history  of  the  early  voyages  of  the  Cabots,  —  a  mist 
or  uncertainty  which  the  contradictory  statenu'iits  of  con- 
temporary documents  render  it  useless  to  endeavor  to  dis- 
sipate, even  if  such  elfort  were   not  outside  the  scope  of  the 


9' 


TPMSrsarfSBSS^ 


mmmmmmmir"' 


OF  NEWFOUNDLAND. 


49 


prcscjit  work.     Tlui  principal  points  of  controversy  may  l)c 
reduced  to  tliese  two  :  — 

Firsf.  To  wliicli  of  the  Cabots,  John  or  his  son  Sebastian, 
is  to  be  given  the  honor  of  the  voyage  and  discovery? 

Second.     \\\\tit  hind  did  lie,  or  they,  really  discover? 

It  will  soiuid  strange  to  the  ear  of  the  ordinary  reader  that 
there  should  be  a  doubt  on  either  of  these  (piestions  ;  yet 
such  is  really  the  case,  and  although,  as  already  stat(Hl,  it  is 
somewhat  outside  the  sco])e  of  the  i)resent  work,  1  deem  it 
of  sufficient  relevance  to  give,  at  least,  the  substance  of  this 
historical  dis(juisition. 

John  ("abot  had  three  sons,  Lewis,  Sel)astian,  and  Sanctius. 
That  the  family  was  of  Italian  origin  is  beyond  doul)!,  but  it 
is  not  certain  whether  flohn  was  born  in  Italy  or  in  liristol, 
England  ;  if  in  Ilalv,  whether  in  (leiioa  or  Venic(\  He 
l)ccame  a  citizen  of  V(  nice  in  1 17(),  and  in  his  patent  of 
discover}',  given  by  Henry  YIL,  he  is  called  "  of  Venice,"' or, 
rather,  a  citizen  of  Venice, ''c/r/  Venefiano."  This  would 
not  prove  that  he  was  a  nafirr  ot"  Venice.  A  map  of  the 
voyage  w;is  drawn  by  Sebastian  Cabot,  and  cut  by  Clement 
Adams,  in  l')44:,  which,  being  in  tlu^  l*i'ivy  (iallcrv  of  White- 
hall, bore  the  inscription,  ''  /:Jjfii/ies  Sebastidtti  (Jahotl  Angli 
Jilli  Jfxnniis  (Jahoti  Veneiiani."  This  makes  Sebastian  an 
Englishman,  and  his  father,  John,  a  Venetian.  Peter  Martyr, 
a  learned  cli'rgyman,  and  a  personal  acquaintance,  in  the 
''Decades  of  the  Ocean,"  calls  Sebastian  "a  N'ene^'  '  born," 
who  in  his  infancy  was  carried  to  England.  Hiduu  Edens, 
also  a  j)articular  friend  of  the  Cabots,  says  Sebastian  told  him 
his  father  died  soon  after  the  news  of  Columbus'  discovi'ry. 
Strype  says  Sel)astian  was  an  Italian  :  (Jrafton,  that  his 
father  was  a  Genoese,  but  that  Sel)astian  was  born  in  Kngland. 
John  Stowe  also  says  John  Cal)ot  was  ])orn  in  Genoa. 
Campbell  ("Lives  of  the  ^Vdmirals,"' p.  ',M',\)  says  Sebastian 
was  born  in  Bristol  in  1477  :  he  would  then  be  l)ut  twenty 
years  of  age  at  the  time  of  the  voyage.  Was  he  old  enough 
to  take  charge  of  the  expedition?  So  nuich  for  the  tirst 
(piestion.     Then, — 


50 


ECCLESIASTICAL   HISTORY 


Second!)/.  "What  land  did  tlicy  discover?  We  must 
rcmciultcr  the  ()l)joc't  of  Cabot  in  this  voyage; :  it  was  to  Hilda 
iiorth-wost  passage  ;  henee  he  kept  a  course  ahnost  Avest  from 
Bristol,  and  Edens  tells  us  "that  he  directed  his  course  I)v 
the  tract  of  islande  ui)|)on  the  ("ape  of  Labrador  at  Ti\'III. 
(r)(SO)  degrees."  In  another  place  (r(>))ort  of  conversation 
with  (ielatius,  etc.)  he  says  that  he  sailed  /rest  from  r)ristol, 
and  thence  (when  he  had  struck  land)  stetM'ed  north  to 
r)8°.  In  either  case  it  would  be  most  probable  that  he  would 
have  first  made  either  some  i)art  of  the  north  of  Xewfound- 
laiid  or  Labrador.  T\u\  tradition  that  IJonavista  was  the 
tirst  land  sighted  was  in  undisturbed  possession  until  some 
few  years  ago. 

In  the  year  lSi')C)  a  ma]),  said  to  be  ("aliot's,  was  discovered 
in  (Jermany.  and  is  now  ])rescrved  in  the  Im})erial  Library 
of  Paris. 

It  gives  the  ])oiiit  tirst  discovered  as  "Prima  \'islM.""  from 
the  descri[)ti()ii  given  by  Campbell,  in  liis  "I/incs  of  the 
Admirals,"  who  says  John  Cabot  so  called  it.  because  it  was 
the  "land  tii'st  seen."  \ow,  as  will  be  observed,  the  point 
on  the  map  thus  marked  is  not  Ponavista  Ca[)e,  Newfound- 
land, but  what  is  now  Cape  North,  in  Cape  Breton  Island. 
This  destroys  the  beautiful  tradition,  held  for  nearly  four 
centuries,  so  graphically  touched  i)y  Dr.  Mullock.  (Lec'tures, 
J).  12.)  "The  Italian  ))erhai)s.  often  deceived  by  fog-banks, 
sees  at  length  the  vi\\n-  well  delined,  the  surges  l)rcakiii<jf  on 
the  'Sj)ii'ers.'  the  dark  green  of  the  forest,  gives  expression 
to  his  feelings  in  his  own  musical  tongue,  and  cries  out.  Bona 
Vista  I  —  (),  hajjpy  sight  I  "  This  newly  tbund  ma[),  if 
authentic,  would  thus  deprive  Xewfoimdiand  of  her  time- 
honored  boast  of  being  Ibitains  oldi-st  colony.  1  am  sorry 
to  see  that  the  I\ev.  M.  Harvey,  in  his  "History  "  {[).  ."» ),  gives 
up  the  claim  most  serenely,  and  without  a  struggle.  He  calls 
the  map  "most  trustworthy."  For  my  part  I  think  it  any- 
thing but  such,  and  that  there  is  nothing  in  the  niaj)  to  shake 
our  long-fomided  faith  in  Bonavista,  and  deem  the  matter 
of  sutiicient   interest  to  state,   at  some  lenuth,  mv  reasons. 


^ 


OF   NEWFOUNDLAND. 


51 


AVliatcver  may  be  thou'fht  of  the  iuithenticity  of  the 
map,  as  a  Avhole,  there  can  he  no  doubt  that  the  words 
PJUMA  VISTA  are  tlie  work  of  a  hiter  liand.  They  are 
printed  in  hir<re,  s(]uare,  and  most  conspicuous  characters, 
entirely  diilerent  from  anything  else  on  the  map.     But,   not 


(  I  ornim  liaiic,  olim  noliis  chuiHiun  ainM-iiit  .loiimicn  Calintim  Vonotus  noc  non 
ScliaHUaims  Caliotiis,  cjusliliurt  iiiuio  ah  (irlif  ii'di'iiiptd  14'.i4,  diu  vn'o  ■i4  Juiiii 
lima  fi  Huh  (liiuculc)  (|uaiu  Ti'naiu  |iiiiiium  N'iHaiu  upiJi'llaniiit,  ct  iiir<ulam  (niain 
dam  I'i  oppot^ilaiii  liimilain  J>ivi  JoaiiiiiH  Xciiniiiaruiit  qviippc  qu:v  Solcniiii  die 
fcHtiidivi  .loaiiiiin  apiTta,  I'liif,  J)iviTsi«  (iiMHTibiiH  pisi'iuin  abiiudat,  liuniiii  aiiti-iii 
maxima  uopia  ost  qiiuH   vulgim   BaucalioH   (itonu')    appollat.) 


SF.UASriAN    CAlSorS   MAP, 


content  witli  this,  tlie  author  (or  int(>ri)olator)  rej)eats  the 
words  in  the  foUowiny' manner  :  '' Prbiui  Terra  17.s/(/,"' inark- 
in*!:  tlie  same  spot.  Here,  apiin,  are  si<>iis  of  tamperin<r,  for 
these  words  are  in  Itallau,  while  all  the  rest  of  the  map 
(with  two  remarkable  excei)tions)  is  in  Spanish.  The  map 
bears  the  (hit (!  of  1544.  /\t  that  time  Sel)astian  Cabot  was 
"pilot  major  of  his  Sacrc!  Imperial  Majesty  Don  ("arlos  the 
V.  of  his  name;"  and,  tio  doul)t,  if  he  had  made  this  map. 


II 


52 


ECCLESIASTICAL   HISTORY 


he  would  hiivc  written  the  names  in  Spanish.  Tiic  inter- 
polator, however,  overlooking  this  fact,  and  counting  on 
('al)ot'.s  supi)oscd  nationality,  inserted  tlio  words  in  Italian. 
''Prima  Vixta"  is  either  Italian  or  Si)anish,  but  IWra  is 
distinctly  Italian,  the  Spanish  word  being  Tierra.  But 
tliis  is  not  all.  The  tirst  of  the  remarkable  exceptions  men- 
tioned above  is,  that  a  third  cflbrt  is  made  to  signalize  that 
spot  on  the  map  as  the  tirst  land  seen:  and  tliis  tinn;  it  is 
in  English.  Tliere  is  an  anclior,  with  the  word  or  Hgure 
"  1st,"  thus,  "  rf^  1st,"  meaning  tirst  anchorage.  This  seems 
like  overdoing  the  matter.  The  second  exception  mentioned 
is  the  French  word  morue.  Tliis  word  occurs  in  the 
inscription  attached  to  the  laap.  The  inscription  is  in  Latin, 
and  was  evidently  written  by  a  Frenclnnan  ;  tor,  after  the 
word  BacaUos,\\(i  exi)lains  by  tlie  word  morne  \\\  parenthesis, 
the  French  name  for  cod.  Tliere  can  be  no  p()ssil)le  reason 
given  why  Cabot  should  have  translated  this  word  into 
French,  supposing  he  wrote  the  iiiscri[)tion,  and  supjiosing 
he  knew  the  French  word,  which  is  doubtful.  AVe  have 
nothing  to  induce  us  to  believe  that  Cabot  knew  French, 
and  he  certainly  had  no  connection  with  that  country.  It 
would,  therefore,  be  most  al)surd  to  imagine  his  inserting 
that  French  word  into  his  Latin  inscrii)tioii.  It  was  evi- 
dently written  by  a  Frenchman,  and  we  have  here  also,  for 
the  tirst  time,  a  corrupt  form  of  spelling  of  the  word 
Baccalaos,  namely,  Bacalios,  a  form  gradually  approaching 
the  modern  French  JiacaJicii.  Again,  it  would  be  impos- 
sible for  a  voyager  coming  from  liristol  to  sight  Cape  North 
in  Cape  Breton  without  tirst  passing  for  some  dai/s  in  sight 
of  Xewfoundlantl.  Finallv,  it  is  stated  that  Cabot,  havinij 
made  the  land  sailiiii:'  west  from  Bristol,  coasted  north  to  the 
fifty-eighth  or  sixtieth  degree  of  latitude;  he  then  returned 
to  his  starting-jioint  and  coasted  south  and  west  as  far  as 
Florida.  All  this  is  inconsistiiut  with  the  idea  of  his  having 
made  Cap''  JVorfh.  He  (.-ould  not  have  gone  north  from  that 
without  sailing  through  the  Straits  of  Belle  Isle,  and  seeing 
Newfoundland    on    tlu;    starboard.      This   we    know   he  did 


OF   NEWFOUNDLAND. 


53 


:* 


not  do.  The  Straits  Averc  only  discovered  by  Curtior  in 
1534.  Again,  sailing  west  and  south  from  Cape  North 
would  have  brought  him  into  the  Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence,  or 
Bay  Chaleur,  instead  of  to  Florida.  Many  other  reasons 
might  b(;  given. 

One  of  the  motives  which  has  induced  writers  to  ad()i)t 
the  "Cape-North  Theory"  is  on  account  of  the  words  in 
Campl)eirs  "Lives  of  the  Admirals";  "On  the  24th 
of  June  !it  5  o'clock  in  the  morning  they  discovered 
the  first  land.  .  .  .  Another  island  less  than  the  first 
he  styled  St.  John."  In  tiie  inscri^jtion  on  Cabot's  map 
this  island  is  thus  spoken  of:  "That  Island  which  lieth  out 
Ix'forc  the  land  tirst  seen  he  called  St.  John."  But  there  is 
no  difficulty  whatever  in  applying  these  words  to  the  theory 
of  Cabot  having  first  seen  Cape  Bonavista,  then  Baccalieu 
Island  ;  and,  crossing  the  mouth  of  Conception  Bay,  he  made 
Cajjc  St.  Francis.  He  thus  thought  that  the  peninsula  of 
Avalon  was  another  and  "  lesser  Island."  And  so  it  is 
marked  on  tin;  map,  and  so  it  was  believed  to  be  for  many 
years  after.  Having  entered  the  harbor  on  the  24th 
of  June  he  gave  it  tiic  name  of  "St.  John's."  AH  this 
applies  better  to  this  theory  than  to  the  other,  for  Prince 
Edward  Island,  sui)})osed  to  be  the  St.  John  in  question, 
lies  rather  "behind"  than  "before"'  Cape  North.  Again, 
Cabot  says  this  island  was  "barren  in  some  places,"  which 
applies  unfortimately  too  well  to  Avalon,  l)ut  not  at  all  to 
Prince  Edward  Island.  And,  lastly,  there  is  no  tradition 
whatever  of  Cabot  having  landed  on  Prince  Edward  Island 
on  St.  John's  day  ;  while  '^tr  city  has  an  unbroken  claim  to 
it  right  uj)  to  the  tin.,  innnediately  succeeding  Cabot's 
discovery. 

I  have  dwe^  longer  than  I  intended  on  this  point,  but 
have  onlv  uiven  u:*  outline  of  the  aruuments  «ro  and  coh. 
What  more  directly  touches  u[)on  our  object  is  the  question, 
Had  Cabot  any  missionaries  with  him?  It  has  already  been 
remarked  thai  the  missionary  went  hand-in-hand  with  the 
discoverer.     And   in  those  pre-Ileformation  times  England 


54 


ECCLESIASTICAL   HISTORY 


■\viis  not  backward  in  this  respect.     At  (he  time  of  Cabot's 
lirst  voyage  (14!)7)  ("ohunbus  had  already  made;  his  second. 


1       ' 


liOX     IN     rosSI.SMON     Ol'     >AlM>i:i!S     I'A.MII.Y.        (cO  V  Kl!. ) 

and  was  ])re[)aring-  for  his  ihird,  which  took  i)hice  the  fol- 
lowing year  (141)8).  lie  was  accompanied  by  i)riests,  and 
established    a  regular  mission  ;  and  though  we  have  no  ae- 


OF   NKWFOl'NDLAND. 


55 


c'oiiiil  of  ('al»()t  htivniii'  iiiissioniirics  with  him,  yet   *t   is   not 
iiuprobahle  that  he  had.     Tho  names  which  he  gave  to  the 


liox  IN   rossKssioN    OK   NArM>i;ii>   i'a.mu.y.     ^iioitom.) 

tlrst  hinds  discovered  are  an  indication  that  ho  was  actuated 
by  the  sani(>  religions  s[)irit  as  Cohunbus.  The  nam^  of 
Jinona    Vista    was  rather  an   invohuitary   expression   of  Joy 


%- 


■  ■itliimWi       


I  i 


r)6 


ECCLESIASTICAI,   IIISTOIIV 


than  an  actual  nannnu:  of  tlu>  place.  I'mt  all  arc  ap^rood  that 
he  callc<l  his  first  laiidinix-placc  St.  John's,  in  honor  of  Iho 
Ba[)tist,  on  whoso  festival  day  ho  entered  our  liarhor.  It  is 
l)rol)ablo,  also,  thiit  to  Cabot  wo  owe  the  beautiful  names  of 
Conception  Day  and  Capo  St.  Francis,  he,  like  Columbus, 
l)oinir  a  fond  disciple  of  the  lowly  .ascetic  of  Assisi. 

Peter  Martyr,  a  deriryman,  contemporary  and  intimate 
friend  of  (^d)ot,  writing  from  Spain  to  Pope  Leo  X.  about 
the  yoiir  1')!.'),  says  that  Cabot  named  the  new  land  "  iJacca- 
laos,  or  Terra  Jiacadearum,  because  he  found  in  the  seas 
there  a  multitude  of  lar<>e  fish  like  tunnies,  which  the  inhal)- 
itants  called  Baccalaos."  The  name  Terra  di  JJaccalao  ap- 
pears in  the  mai)s  of  those  times,  and  for  many  years  after 
for  that  ])()rtion  of  the  land  now  called  .Lahrddor;  the 
name  of  liaccala,  now  ixallici/.ed  into  Uacadieu,  beinii"  le- 
stricted  to  a  smidl  island  at  the  mouth  of  Conception  Ba}'. 

"We  have,  as  already  remarked,  no  account  of  the  estab- 
lishment of  missions  or  the  p(>rform;nice  of  religious  services 
at  this  period,  but  some  relics  have  l)een  found  Avhich  might 
possil)ly  indicate  the  presence  of  priests  in  those  days; 
among  the  nvst,  a  brass  box,  now  in  the  jmssession  of  Mr. 
Saunders,  of  (ireonspond,  Bonavista  Bay,  of  curious  and 
antique  workmanship. 

There  ciin  hardly  be  a  doubt  that  it  forms  part  of  the 
equiiJinent  of  some  early  niissionary.  The  figure  of  the  Re- 
monstrance shows  at  once  that  the  1)ox  Wiis  used  as  !i  pyx, 
or  case,  to  hold  the  altar-breads  for  the  Holy  Sacrifice  of  the 
Mass.  The  l)ox  is  about  five  inches  ])y  four,  in  form  of  an 
ellii)sc.  The  fiii'ures  are  scratched  in  n  not  altou'cther  in- 
artistic,  though  not  quite  professional,  st^do.  It  has  been  in 
possession  of  the  Saunders  faniily  from  time  innnomorial. 
On  the  cover  is  engraved  a  ducal  crown  as  crest,  with  an 
escutcheon  su|)))orted  ])y  two  heraldic  anin  ds.  On  tlie  field 
of  the  shield  are  the  following  letters  :  jpi^^  D  L  C  D  L  G, 
which  I  interpret  (imtil  a  better  explanation  bo  forthcom- 
ing), Pura  Innnacculata  VilvginE,  "Pure  and  Immacidate 
Virgin,"  for  the  monogram  ;  and  for  the  smaller  letters,  "  Deo 


I  I 


OF   NEVVFOUNDLANl). 


57 


Liius  Cui  Dobotur  Laus  vA  (lloria ;"  that  is,  "  Pralso  to  God, 
to  whom  is  due  I'raiso  and  (iloiy." 

On  tim  under  part  of  the   l)ox  is  a  KenionstraiK'o,  or  0.s- 


Terra  de   Labrador 


C  delLaborado 


\A1Ii:a\    mat.' 


tcnsory,  restinjj^  on  a  throne,  attended  by  two  angels  with 
trumpets,  and  a('eom])anie(l  by  stars  and  doves. 

In  tlie  year  1500  tlie  King  of  Portugal  sent  out  Caspar  de 


'  Copieil  tVnm  tlic  ori^riiiiil  by  tlio  writer  in  IcSK."). 


[3^ 


58 


ECCLESIASTICAL   HISTORY 


(^orlereal,  who  nlsio  camo  Iho  follow iiiii;  yeiir  with  his  brother 
Michael.  lie  .sailed  round  the  rslaiid,  and  named  many 
places;  among  the  rest,  Portniral  Cove.  In  a  map,  painted 
l»y  \'arrese,  upon  the  walls  of  the  \'atican  I'alace,  Koine,  in 
the  Loijijic  dl  lldfacUc,  .about  the  year  l;");')!!,  the  southern 
part  of  Labrador  is  called    "  Trrva  lU  Oorfercdl." 

No  vesti<;c  of  tin;  event  now  remains  unless  we  luay  con- 
sider Cottrel's  or  Cottel's  Island,  a  small  jtlace  in  Tiinity 
liay,  as  a  corrupt  form  of  this  navigator's  name.  (.1.  1*. 
Ilowley,  Ks(|.,  F.ti.S.) 

Although  St.  John's  was  not  chosi-n  ;is  the  Jlmf,  nor  even 
the  second,  capital  of  the  Island,  yet  it  was  very  soon  :i  i)lace 
of  importance  in  the  country.  Owing  to  its  splendid  harbor 
and  naturally  safe  conformation,  surrounded  by  lofty  iiills, 
and  secured  from  the  great  swell  of  the  Atlantic,  while  at 
the  same  time  it  is  riglit  on  the  verge  v{'  the  ocean,  so  as  to 
be  easy  of  access  at  all  times  ;  its  important  situation  on  the 
most  easterly  point  of  the  Island,  the  nearest  to  the  Old 
World,  and  in  the  immediate  \)n\\i  of  ocean  trallic;  tiie 
splendid  adai)tability  of  its  shores  for  the  formation  of  a 
great  city,  —  from  all  these  natural  advantages  it  is  no 
wonder  that,  from  the  very  earliest  stages  of  our  history,  it 
bi'gins  to  assume  a  i)rominent  jilace  as  a  great  port  of  com- 
nuTce  and  tishery  o[)erations,  and  to  give  clear  signs  of  that 
future  greatness  which  was  to  render  it  linaliy  the  cai)ital  of 
the  Island. 

As  early,  then,  as  ir)27  we  find  ( I'urcha.-s'  "^'oyagcs," 
Vol.  III.,  p.  SOO)  a  letter  was  written  to  King  Itenry  VIII. 
Ity  one  John  Kutt,  master  of  a  ship  then  lying  in  tlu^  haven 
of  St.  John's,  in  which  he  states  that  in  that  port  alone  there 
were,  at  the  time,  eleven  ships  from  Normandy  anil  one  from 
l>rittany,  engaged  in  the  cod-tishery. 

From  this  jieriod  until  the  arrival  of  Sir  Humphrey  Gil- 
bert, l.')(S;'),  we  do  not  read  of  any  attem[)t  being  made  to 
establish  religion  in  Newfoundland.  In  fact,  while  France, 
Si)ain,  and  Portugal  were  vying  with  each  other  in  their 
etforts   to   explore  and  colonize    ni'w  countries,  to  civilize 


OF  NKVVFOUNDLANI). 


59 


native  trilx's  and  l)riii<r  tlioin  to  a  kii()\vl('(l;.'('  of  Christ iaiiity, 
MiiLrlaiid  scciuod  to  take  no  intcicst  in  her  tcii'itorv  on  tlio 
western  ocean.  TIh*  policy  of  Kiijiland,  or  at  least  of  those 
who  lloated  her  Hair  in  the  New  >\'oi'ld,  in  reirard  to  the 
savaiTC!  triltes,  jind  es|)eciall_v  in  Newfoundland,  is  oiio  of  the 
,irreatest  hlots  upon  her  history's  pa;;e. 

"'i'h(^  natives"  (Dr.  Mullock  writes  iu  his  manuscript) 
"were  ii  Hue  race  of  men,  called  by  themselves  HkoTIIICS, 
su])pose(l  l>y  some  to  have  l)een  partially  descended  from  tlu; 
XorthmcM,  hid  now  unhappily  exiiuct.  Litth'  moi'e  than 
twenty  yeais  ai:()  (I^i-ll^)  a  renmant  ot'  tiie  tiihe  wandei-eil 
anionj;  the  forests  and  aloni:'  the  shores  of  the  ii'reat  lakes 
of  the  intei'ioi';  Itut  the  lire-Mrnis  of  tjie  Kui^lish  settlers  and 
of  the  Micniac  Indians  cut  them  oil"  to  the  last  man.  Cold- 
hlooded  nnuderers  li\  ini:'  in  our  own  day  used  to  hoast  of 
the  mimhcrs  of  Indians  they  killed,  as  if  tiicy  were  so  many 
head  of  cU'cr.  \\'lien  too  late  the  government  was  at  leiiiith 
aroused,  and  endeavored  to  put  an  end  to  such  harharity. 
An  expedition  was  sent  to  try  and  save  the  renmant,  but  it 
was  unsuccessful.  .  .  .  The  Newfoundland  Indian 
never  knew  the  white  man  but  as  a  nuu'dei'cr,  and  wlu'U  he 
coidd  he  retaliated.  Now  all  are  extei'ininated  ;  the  ruins  of 
their  huts  and  deer  fences  yet  remain,  but  will  soon  decay. 
A  few  barbarous  names,  im[)osed  on  ])hK'es  where  the  whites 
attacked  them,  as  Exploits,  liloody  IJay,  and  a  tradition  of 
rutliless  murders  j)erpetrate(l,  are  ail  that  remain  to  tell  that 
such  a  rac(^  cNcr  existed  under  three  centuries  of  Uritish 
rule.  J  was  most  hai)|)V  to  tind  that  amonii'  all  the  in<|uiries 
I  made  I  ne\('r  could  connect  any  of  our  Catholics  with  the 
murder  of  this  race,  'i'lu^  Micmac  Indians,  indeed,  fouiiht 
with  them,  and  tiicir  semi-civilization  and  kiiowledi^-e  of  the 
use  of  tire-arms  i>a\('  them  the  ad\anta<i('  over  the  i)()werfiil 
Heothic,  —  for  these  weri'  almost  a  iiiiiantic!  race,  —  but 
never  could  I  learn  that  an  Irish  or  a  Newtoundland  Catho- 
lic raised  a  aim  aizainst  one  of  them  to  rob  him  of  the  furs 
he  wore,  -which  was  often  the  only  temi)tati()U  to  shoot 
him." 


IN 


60 


ECCLKSIASriCAL   IlISTOKV 


TIio  nuinc  IV'othic,  or  l^'othuk,  hy  wiiicli  llio  Mhoriiiiinil 
KimI  Iiidiaiis  c)t'  Ncwfouiullniid  hccaiiio  known  in  history, 
stHMUS  not  to  li!iv(!  lu'cn  llu>ir  oriii'iiiiil  niinic  in  their  own 
laniiuiiiic,  l)ut  one  uivcn  them  1)V  the  Micniacs.  In  th(^ 
jMii'niMc  hinii'UMiiC  it  means  "the  lore-loot  ot"  a  deer,"  and  was 
probably  i>iven  them  in  conscMjnonce  of  tluMr  swiftness  of 
foot.  This  would  account  for  the  name  of  "  l)iack  foot,"  by 
which  lliey  were  also  known  ;  and  a  harbor  on  Labrador  still 
bears  the  name  of  Pcnirarc,  probably  a  corruption  of  Pied 
JS^oir,  c\idently  liavinj:"  some  connection  with  the  extinct 
race.  The  name,  howev«'r,  of  Ik'othuc  has  bee  diHei'cntly 
explained.  Kobert  (iordon  Latham  ("Comparative  Phi- 
lolojry")  thinks  it  means  "( Jood-niuiit  Lidians,"  from  tlu' 
woi'd  hidlliii,  to  j^o  home,  and  thus  its  real  nieaninu'  is,  "1 
am  lioing  home."  Mr.  A.  S.  (Jatschet,  who  read  a  papi'r 
on  the  sultji'ct  before  the  American  Piiilosoj)hical  Society 
in  l(5^>^),  says  the  name  Ilvnlliiv  is  a  ;i'eneric  name  for 
Indian.  He  also  says  (p.  ll;'))  that  lie  made  a  research, 
at  the  'earnest  solicitation  of  Mr.  .'ames  i'.  llowley,  sur- 
N'cyor  and  assistant  ir'colou'ist  "•'  Newfoundland,  who, 
throuii'h  his  muncrous  ex^jcdilions,  has  bei-ome  familiar  with 
all  i)arts  of  the  Island.  With  accuracy  he  (Mr.  II.)  com- 
pared the  faulty  vocabulary  of  Loyd.  and  corrected  about 
twenty-liv(>  misspelliniis.  and  aathered  many  words  hitherto 
unknown."  The  vocabulary  spoken  of  was  oiitained  from 
Mary  Mtirch,  or  Demasduit,  by  IJev.  ,L  Leiuh,  and  there 
was  another  obtained  j'rom  Shanandiliiit,  by  Cormack. 
These  two  women  were  tlu'  last  of"  the  lied  Indians.  Demas- 
duit, or  \\'auiiathoakc,  called  Mary  March  from  the  month 
in  which  she  was  captured,  was  taken  in  iNl!*  by  the  late 
John  Peyton,  who  shot  her  husltand  at  Ked  Indian  I'ond,  and 
l>rouuht  herself  to  St.  John's.  She  i'«'mained  dnrini:'  the  year, 
and  beini:'  sent  home  in  flanuai'y,  1S2(),  died  on  the  way,  of 
consumption.  Shanandithit,  or  Shawnadithit ,  aflcrwai'ds 
vuliiari/cd  into  ^Vf///cy,  was,  with  two  of  her  dauii'lders, 
bronirht  to  St.  John's  by  William  Call,  in  lSi>;5.  She 
remained  amonji"  the  whiti^s  till  she  died  (in  a  hospital  in  St. 


OF   NKWFOrNDI.ANI). 


61 


Jolin's),  in  1.S21I.'  The  vociihularics  ohlniiKMl  iVoin  llioso 
ju'i'soiis  iiiul  other  sources  iiinotml  to  altoul  three  Iiimdred 
and  lit'ty  \V()r(l.s.  The  name  uiveii  for  themselves  (the  Ked 
Indians)  is  ShawaUiurott.  The  lanuuaii'e  is  said  not  to 
resemhh'  that  of"  any  ot'the  neiii'hhorin^  tril»es  of  Canada  or 
North  America.  Hence,  thouu'ii  nothiiii:' satisfactory  has  yet. 
come  to  liiiht  to  (h'lermine  their  trni^  ethnological  ])()sili()n, 
^Ir.  llowiey  is  fidly  convinced  they  are  not  Ali^oncinins, 
thounh  hitherto  liiouiiiit  to  be  a  branch  of  that  ureat  trib(> 
whicli  inhabited  all  th<'  north  shore  of  the  St.  Lawrences, 
from  the  Saii'uenay  I'ivcr  to  the  territory  of  the  lOsijuimanx. 
As  to  their  character  iVyton  describ(>d  them  as  ''lierceand 
savau'c."  Jint  this  is  entirely  contrary  to  the  accounts  of  the 
carl}'  naviii'ators,  and  was  probably  only  an  excuse  to  coNcr 
his  own  inhuman  cruelty  to  them.  He  nas  one  of  those  who 
boasted  of  th(>  munbcr  of  "lieail"  of  them  they  had  killed, 
and  scoi'cd  it  on  their  liimstocks.  From  the  earliest  times 
we  have  the  most  favoi'able  accoimts  of  these  Indians.  C'aI)oL 
brought  three  of  them  to  iMi^land  with  him,  who  became 
civili/ed,  and  were  schmi  some  years  afterwards  at  Westmin- 
ster Palace,  by  KerV:  who  "could  not  dislinuuish  them  from 
Kuiilishmen."  Frobisher  (  l;")?!)  says  they  were  '' altoii■ether 
harlnlesso."'  AVhitbourne  says  (1  (!22)  they  were  "an  inu'c'iiious 
and  subtill  I'acc,"  and  "tractaide  when  kindly  dealt withall." 
"Much  liood,"  he  continues,  "mii:ht  be  wrought  upon  them, 
for  I  have  appai'ent  proofes  ot' their  inu'cuious  and  subtill  dis- 
positions: :ind  that  ihey  are  a  ])eople  full  of  (piicke  and  lively 
apprehensions."  lie  does  not,  liowcx cr,  seem  to  have  dis- 
covered any  clue  to  their  reliu'ious  belief.  JI(>  s.-iys  tlicy  had 
no  knowledge  of  (iod,  nor  any  civil  ptN crmnent.  The  dis- 
covery of  bows  and  .arrows  and  drinkinu-cups,  in  the  graves 
of  some  of  the  tril»e,  on  thc^  l)anks  of  th(>  Ked  Indian  Lak(\, 
in   1<S2.S,  would  seem  to  indicate  a   kindred   belief  with  tlu) 


'  Tlu'  iiKithcr  and  line  (if  Uic  daM^hlci-i  dii'il,  Iml  llic  third,  uIki^c  mmimi'  u:\>  sIimii- 
Jiiidilliil,  siiivivfd  i'lidiil  twii  viais,  I'Ic.  (Iiiv.  M.  lliirvcy,  "  lli>lcn\v  iif  Niwl'imiid- 
hiiid  ")  ;  hut  ill  liis  arliclu  "  lU'toids  (if  nil  Kxliiict  Jiact:  "  lie  ;;ivi's  llic  lads  as  in  llio 
toxt. 


02 


KCCLKSIASTICAL    IlISTOllY 


'li 


other  tribes  of  Nortli  America  in  the  "  liiii)i)y  hunting- 
irrouiuls  of  the  future."'' 

Peyton  infornuHl  Mr.  Ilowley  tliat  lie  thought  that,  if  they 
had  any  worshiji  at  all,  it  was  that  of  the  Sun.  They  had  a 
superstition  eoneerniiii!;  a  devil,  or  evil  spirit,  Avliieh  haunted 
the  (irand  liakc,  and  which  thev  called  Ashinodshini,  or 
AshuK  \vini. 

Dr.  jNIuUoek  (nianusei'ii)t)  quotes  from  an  edition  of 
Ptolemy's  ji-eoifraphy,  i)ul)lished  in  Venice  in  1.">()1  l»y 
(iirolamo  Huse(dli,  and  now  preserved  in  the  library  of  St. 
Isidore's  Franciscan  Convent,  IJoine,  a  description  of  the 
Island  of  Xewfoundland  arid  the  aboriiiiiies.  It  contains, 
also,  a  map  of  liie  island  as  then  known  to  the  Italians, 
both  of  which,  he  writes,  "are  so  curious  and  so  totally  dif- 
ferent from  the  reality  that  I  thought  it  would  be  interesting' 
to  I'eproduci'  ihem  here.'"  Fnfortuuatcdy  I  have  not  found 
this  copy  of  the  map;  if  ever  made  it  has  Ix-cn  lost. 
Dr.  Mullock  then  ^oes  on  to  descriix'  the  maj).  "  It  will 
l)e  ))erceivc(l  that  Xewfoundland  was  tlieii  thouiilit  to  Ix  > 
collection  of  small  islands,  —  the  appearance  it  ])resen(-  at 
J.  sent  to  those  who  sail  at  sonie  distance  aloiiij:  its  shores 
and  see  only  the  lieadlands  and  the  open  sea  between  them, 
on  account  ot'  the  width  and  de[)fh  of  the  bays.  It  is 
renuirk;d)le,  also,  that  ihouu'h  the  map  is  an  Italian  one,  and 
|)ublished  in  Italy,  all  the  names  are  Spanish:  so  that  it 
appears  to  be  the  co[)y  of  a  ma))  jiublished  by  the  Spanish 
na\  ipitors.""  (Probably  of  Cabot's  of  ir)44,  mentioned 
above.)  'i'he  description  acconi[)anyinu"  the  maj)  is  as  fol- 
lows :  "  Tierra  Xueva  de  los  l»acalaos.  IJacalaos,  or 
liaccallaos,  is  a  sort  of  lariic  tish  which  the  peo})le  of  Ireland, 
and  also  the  iMiiilish,  tish  for.  It  is  this  which  gives  the 
name  to  the  Province,  which,  however,  is  very  small  and 
not  well  iuhal)iled,  as  it  is  a  very  cold  country  :  hence  both 
men  and  women  are  clothed  in  bear-skins.  They  are  of  a 
l)estial  nature:  eat  e\i'i'ything  raw  and  even  human  tlesh  ; 
they  have  neither  religion  nor  law,  and  tl.ey  adore,  some  one 
thing,  some  anotiier ;  as  tlu;  Sun,  Moon,  Stars,  or  anything 


J 


OF   NEWFOUNDLAND. 


63 


clso.  The  land  of  Lahnidor  is  said  to  bo  the  last  of  all  those 
newly  discovered  towards  those  nortliern  ))ai'ts,  and  is  ahont 
fonrtoen  leauiies  distant,  from  tlie  Island  of  Iceland,  or  'The 
Lost,'  which  the  ancients  called  Tile  (Thnle)  ;  and  it  is  the 
last  i)art  of  the  world  towards  that  side.  .  .  .  AVc  pass 
over  :i  period  of  eiuhty-hix  years,  and  iind  another  niaj),  i)ul)- 
lished  in  Florence,  in  1(!47  ;  we  may  perceive  that  a  very 
j)assal)le  knowledii'e  of  the  form  and  extent  of  the  country 
had  l)e(ni  ac(inii'ed."  Thus  fai-  Dr.  Mullock,  hut  we  see  iVom 
tlu^  maps  of  Xewi'oundland,  drawn  by  Chaniplain  as  early 
as  1 1)1N-11>,  that  Newfoundland  is  represented  f/.s  r*;((W.'//vye 
island,  and  bears  a  \cry  fair  resemblance  to  its  present  ')ut- 
linc  on  our  latest  nia[)s.  That  it  should  have  l)een  ...  lirst 
supposed  to  consist  of  a  nuinl)er  of  small  islands  is  not 
indeed  to  be  wondered  at,  when  we  tind  on  Verrazano's  map 
(ir)2<S)  that  Eniilandaud  Scotland  an^  rei)resented  as  sei)arate 
islands.  Indeed,  it  would  ajjpear  that  i)artieular  attention 
was  [)aid  to  the  exact  delineation  of  our  shores  at  a  very  early 
date;  and  the  correctness  of  the  drawinu',  and  naminii'  of 
places,  is  truly  astonishina'.  consideriui:'  the  rudeness  of  the 
instruments,  the  remoteness  of  the  localities,  etc.  There  is 
nothing  to  contirm  tln'  statement  made  al)ove  that  the  abo- 
rigines were  cannibals.  Kerr,  in  his  '■Trav(ds,"'  speaking  of 
those  Indians  whom  he  saw  at  ^Westminster,  says  :  '' They 
did  eat  raw  Hesh."  Jkit,  then,  lirsily,  he  nuist  have  spoken 
from  hearsay  ;  secondly,  he  does  not  say  lainian  Jicxh,  but 
rail'  llesh.  In  this  gastrononiical  f(>at  they  ai"e  closely  fol- 
lowed by  some  civili/ed  savages.  Again,  it  is  not  certain 
whethi'r  these  men  biought  home  by  (abot.on  his  second 
vovaii'c,  were  Ueothics  oi'  not  :  for,  on  that  occasion,  he 
coasted  as  far  as  Florida,  and  touched  at  many  [)laces. 
Finall}',  savages  in  all  climes  are  more  faithful  ol)servers  of 
nature's  laws  than  civili/ed  man  ;  and  it  is  a  well-known 
ethnological  fact  that  the  consumption  of  human  flesh  in 
nortlnn'n  or  cold  tTuuates  is  fatal,  natmv  I'eijuiring  a  more 
oleaginous  substance;  hence  the  seal,  the  bear,  and  the 
walrus  are  bountifully  supplied  by  an  All-seeing  Providence. 


■MH 


(54 


ECCLESIASTICAL    IIISTOUY 


P 


That  the  Bootliios  hiul  a  knowlodac  of  the  use  of  tire,  and  of 
a  rude  culinary  art,  are  facts  ))(>yond  (lis[)ut(!.  For  the  j)r()- 
(hiction  of  tlie  former  they  i<iiuled  the  (h)\vn  of  the  hhu^  jav 
{Covi'iin  Canadensis)  l)y  slrikin<>;  to<iether  two  })ieces  of  iron 
jnrites  or  niuiidic.  (Ilowley.)  As  to  (iieir  knowk'dii'e  of 
cookinir,  (\)rniaek  deserihes  havinjx  found  various  culinary 
utensils  amoni:-  their  wiiiwanis  at  Ked  Indian  Lake. 

The  map  of  Wrrazano,  hefori^  alluded  to,  is  ])reserved  in 
the  Propaganda,  or  lioruian  Museum,  at  Rome,  when;  also 
are  seveial  other  ancient  maps  which  havc^  been  hrouiiht  into 
ureat  prominence  lately  hy  havinii"  heen  used  by  Pope  Leo 
XIII.  in  decidinix  the  dispute  Ix'lwecn  S})ain  and  Prussia 
concerniui;'  tlu^  dominion  of  the  Caroline  Islands.  This  fact 
may  be  looked  upon  as  o\w  of  the  most  extraordinary  occur- 
rences of  the  nineteenth  ccMitury.  The  powerful  Protestant 
premier  of  Prussia,  Prince  P>ismarck,  a  man  whose  life  was 
s})ent  in  o})})()siti()n  to  the  Papacy,  and  who  made  the  vain 
boast  that  lu'  "would  never  li'o  to  Cancjssa,"'  led  by  an  in- 
stinct of  the  i)rofoundest  jjolicy,  but  in  whicli  the  hand  of 
God  is  visibly  seen,  ai)])lies  to  the  Po[)e,  kneels  before  Leo 
like  another  Henry  I  \'.  before  (Jreii'ory.  Bismarck  acknowl- 
(idu'es  Leo,  in  the  midst  of  this  materialistic  nineteenth  cen- 
tury, as  the  Great  Arbiter  of  nations!  This  is,  indeed,  jv 
portentous  event.  And,  as  if  it  wt-re  to  accentuatiMts  sioniti- 
cance,  Leo,  in  LSiS"),  makes  use  of  the  ideiiiical  map  used 
some  four  hundred  years  before  (141);i)  by  Alexander  \'I.  for 
the  same  pnr[)ose,  nanudy,  to  settle  the  ditferences  arisini; 
between  the  kings  of  Spain  and  Portuizal  concerninii'  the 
dominion  of  the  new  found  lands  of  the  westein  world. 

Beinir  in  Rome  in  LSS'),  I  was  kindly  permitted  to  examine 
and  v^)\^y  some  of  these  rare  specinums  of  c()smoi>rai)hv,  as 
widl  as  a  Latin  document  accompanyini:'  and  illustrating:"  them. 
I  here  aive  a  reduced  sketch  of  \rdrt  of  Verrazano's  map. 

In  L'")2.'),  (riovanni  Verra/ano,  a  Florentine,  was  sent  out 
by  Francis  I.,  King  of  France,  and  discovered  the  eastern 
coast  of  America,  which  he  claimed  for  France.  It  would 
seem  that  Fngland  had  let  her  right  go  by  default ,  as  Cabot  had 


Is 


> 


OF   NEWFOUNDLAND. 


65 


discovered  and  claimed  in  her  name  all  this  coast  some  thirty 
years  lielbre.  The  Latin  manuseiipt  of  the  l>()rgian  Museum, 
explanatory  of  the  ma|)s,  says  that  Wu'razano  found  the  coun- 
try called  lluaitenet,  and  <iave  it  the  name  of  jSfova  Gdllla, 
or  Now  France.  The  ma})  of  tin;  lands  discovered  hy 
Vcrrazano  was  not  made  till  live  years  after,  viz.,  l.')2(S.  It 
was  drawn  hy  Jerome  Verrazano,  as  the  inscription  states, 
'' lUcvouipnKs  Verra:^(i)}o  fac.iehal ."  It  shows  the  line  drawn 
hy  order  of  Al(^\ander  \'].  ;  hut,  of  course,  it  is  not  the;  ma[) 
used  actually  hy  that  Pope,  who  died  in  1503,  twenty-tive 
years  hefore  this  map  was  made.  .VU  the  maps  of  this  period 
copied  the  ahoNc  di\idii,<>-  line  of  Alexander  \'I.  It  is  to  he 
seen,  also,  on  another  mai)  preserved  in  the  nuiseum,  namely, 
that  of  Dieii'o  Kihero,  cosmou'raphist  of  Spain,  whose  map 
was  drawn  in  l.")2!t.  The  actual  original  ma})  used  hy  .Vlex- 
Jinder  A'l.,  and  ])r()hal)ly  drawn  hy  Paolo  ToscancHi,  is  also 
preserved  in  this  jihrary,  and  is  flic  one  lately  used  hy  Po[)e 
Leo  XIII.  On  examininii'  tliese  majjs  W(>  tind  two  ditlerent 
lines  of  demarcation  hetweeu  Spain  and  Portuaal.  One  is 
drawn  throuuh  the  Atlantic  Ocean  al)out  'i'^  west  from  the 
Azores;  the  otlier  is  ahout  18^"^  fartiier  west,  or  olP  west 
from  Cajie  W'rde,  and  runs  throu,<.di  part  of  the  continent  of 
South  America.  The  history  of  the  discrepancy  hetween 
thes(!  two  lines  is  most  interesting  and  instructive.  Tlie  hold 
navigatoi's  of  Portuu'al  had  pushed  their  explorations  south- 
ward alonii'  the  coast  of  Africa  many  years  hefore  the  discov- 
ery of  Amei'ica  hy  t'olumhus,  till  at  leni>'tli,  in  the  year  14i)7, 
Vasco  da  (iania  rounded  the  ('a})e  of  Ciood  Hope,  and  dis- 
covered IiKha  and  the  land  of  the  (Ireat  Khan,  and  uave  to 
Portnual  undisputed  dominion  over  all  the  lands  of  tlu!  East. 
After  ("olinnltus'  discovery  ihey  I»eii'an  to  fear  the  iiU'ur>ions 
of  S[)ain  ;  and  henci',  as  a  matter  of  ordinaiy  proceedinu', 
I'ecurrenei!  was  had  to  the  Pope  to  lay  down  a  houndary  line. 
In  those  days  the  Pope  was  acknowledii-ed  as  tiie  divinely 
appointed  iruardian  of  all  i)t'oj)les,  and  the  supreme  jud^t'  in 
matters  of  international  disagreement.  His  action  was  not, 
therefore,  an   in/f'ij'rroire  unwarranted,  as  assumed  hy  many 


(ii; 


ECCLESIASTICAL   HISTORY 


"' '    'i 

t 


n 


niodcni  writers,  Imt  was  nskcdfor  mikI  cxiu'cKmI  l>y  kinus  and 
priiK'i's.  Ik'iK-e  the  Pope  was  apin-aled  to,  to  prevent  a  col- 
lision betweiMi  Spain  and  Portnual.  TIk;  P()|)e  ordered  the 
line  of  deinareation  to  he  di-awn  "One  hundred  leagues  (or 
about  Ipj  deirrces)  west  fVoni  the  A/.ores  and  Cape  Verde 
Islands,  nieasured  from  a  point  midway  hetwecm  the  two 
liroups  ;  all  islands,  ete.,  on  the  wi'st  of  this  line  to  belonu"  to 
Spain;  those  on  the  east  to  Lusitania  or  Portugal."  This 
decision  was  confirmed  by  a  brii'f  drawn  u[)  on  the  4th  of 
May,  1403,  solemnly  signed,  and  the  line;  drawn  on  the  map. 
The  King  of  Portugal  was  not  satisfied  with  the  decision,  and 
tried  every  possible  means  to  n)akethe  Pojjc  reverse  or  revise 
his  sent(Mice  :  l)r.t  he  would  not  swerve  an  inch  from  his  first 
j)ro|)()sal.  King  John  then  brought  about  a  meeting,  at 
Tordesillas,  with  the  weak-mindcnl  Ferdinand,  and  easily  per- 
suaded him  to  move  the  line  farther  westward,  so  as  to  give 
his  ships  more  sea-room  :  arguing  that  a  few  leagues,  more  or 
less,  on  a  boundless  ocean  was  not  of  any  consetjuence.  The 
line  was  therefore  removcMl  some  three  hundred  and  sevent}' 
leagues,  or  IS.V"^,  farther  westward.  This  accounts  for  the 
second  line  on  the  map  (shown  in  our  n'i)roduction  as  a 
heavy  black  line,  while  th(>  line  of  Alexander  VI.  is  shown 
by  us  in  red  as  it  is  drawn  on  the  original).  This  agree- 
ment was  made  the  17th  day  of  ,Iuiie,  141)4,  as  mentioned  on 
lJil)ero's  nia|).  P)\'  this  concession  King  Ferdinand  ceded, 
though  unwittinu'lv,  to  Portui^al,  the  kinu'dom  of  Prazil.  It 
is  a  very  extraordinary  fact  tha^  the  line  drawn  by  the  Pope, 
and  adhei'cd  to  with  such  (Ictennination,  is  the  only  on(>  that 
can  be  drawn  on  the  Atlantic  which  runs  from  i)ole  to  i)ole 
without  encountering  any  land.  It  is  certain  that  the  Popes 
were  fai'  in  advance  of  the  rest  of  the  world  in  knowledge  of 
geography  and  other  branches  of  science,  and  that  they  had 
gathered  around  them  the  most  learned  and  skilled  cosmog- 
rajjliers  of  Miirope.  Vet,  even  admitting  this,  it  si^ems  an  as- 
tounding thing  that  Pope  Alexander  should  have  been  able,  at 
that  early  date,  to  fix  with  siu-li  j)recision  this  dividing  merid- 
ian.     (Fr.  Knight,  S.J.,  in  the  "  Month,"  November,  ISTli.) 


!i: 


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MAP  OF   VERAZZANO, 


PRESEFiVED    IN 


PROPAGANDA   LIBRARY,  ROME. 


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OF  NEWFOrNDLANl). 


67 


CIIAITKK    IV. 


.IACQUI>  fVRTIKU.—  [IWI-Kai.] 

Ncfflect  of  Colonies  hy  En^jliiiid  —  Henry  Kirko  IJefiileil  —  Catholic  Countries  En- 
C()iinii;i:  C'oloni/.iilidn  —  .Tiu'((iu's  ('iirtii'i''s  \'oyii;,'es,  l.'i't I -•').') — Arrives  iit  (,'iitiilina 
—  I'irst  Muss  ill  N'cwloiiiulliUKl — Calliolic  Missions  in  Anieiicii  ^  Testimony  of 
Bnncnift — Cai'tier  Enters  the  Straits  of  lielle  Isle  and  Explores  the  St.  Eaw- 
renee  —  Old  Fort — Antieosti,  Hay  ("lialeur  —  Siiifui'naV,  Quebec,  etc.  —  Settle- 
ment by  John  (Jny  in  Conception  Haj'. 

FOlv  some  (|iiitfl('r  oi"  m  ('cnliiry  iiftcr  the  discovery  of 
Ncwt'oiiiKlliiiKl  l)V  ('jil)ot,  Kiighuid  sccius  to  liiivo  tiikcii 
no  iiilcrcst  in  licr  Xcw  loiindl.Mnd  acquisition  of  tcrritoi-y, 
hut  to  li.'ivc  iihiindoncd  it  to  the  use  of  foreign  tisliennen, 
who  fully  iiviiiled  themselves  of  her  Vidiiid)lo  tisheries. 
Kirkc,  in  his  "C'on<iii<'st  of  ('tmadti,"  p.  22,  attribute's  this 
lethargy  of  England  to  the;  old  Ix'te  nolf,  "  sticerdotalisni  and 
monkery."  These  lie  tells  us  were  not  detul  in  England  till 
the  reign  of  Elizid)clh,  a(|ueen  "thrifty  and  penurious."  "With 
her  accession  dawned  ti  new  em,  and  "  Engliiiid  iiwidced  to 
new  life."  The  dissolution  of  mon.'isteries  conferred  we.altli  on 
the  iiristoeniey,  so  thtit  '' all  extimple  and  precept  (.svV;,-  (/ii, 
pretext )  for  idleness  h;id  disa])pe!ired.""  So  it  was  "only  in  the 
latter  half  of  the  sixteenth  century,  seventy-two  yetirs  after 
C:d)ot's  discovery,  that  any  attempt  was  made  to  utilize  it  by 
England."  Yet,  strjuige  to  say,  this  s.amc  writer,  in  the  very 
next  page,  tells  us  that  Spain,  where  "  monkery  and  sticerdo- 
talisni  "  were  in  fidl  vigor,  —  this  benighted  country  (at  the 
very  time  that  Eiighmd  wtis  so  busy  killing  out  nioid<ery), — 
"wiis  reaping  a  rich  harvest  from  Americii"!  "And  yearly 
vast  treasure -ships  sailed  across  the  Atlantic  to  empty  into 
her  bosom  the  spoils  of  a  new  continent."  And,  what  is  still 
more  stninge,  it  was  those  very  "lazy  monks  '"  who  Avere  the 
life  and  soul  of  those  enterprises  I  So  do  men,  blinded  by 
early  prejudice,  ftul  to  read  history  correctly  ! 


()« 


ECCLESIASTK'AL   IIISTOKY 


France,  too,  iinolhcr  country  ovcrriddiMi  liy  "  monkery 
imd  sacenlolalisni,"  wliilc  lOnnland  was  revellinj^  at  homo 
in  the  supen-irul^'cnt  lijilil  of  the  new  Ud'ormation,  and  con- 
tenting; lierselt'  willi  llie  treasures  "wrenclied  iVom  the  dis- 
solved mona.sti'ries,  was  |)ushui<j;  her  exploralions  onward 
in  the  Avestcrn  ocean,  and  winning'  for  lierself  new  glories 
in  iIk'  shape  of  vast  colonial  possessions. 

In  the  years  ir)l54-8r)  fTac(ines  Cartier,  a  iyreat  French 
naviuator,  exi)lored  tlu!  coast  of  Newfoundland,  penetrated 
the  Straits  of  I'dle  Isle  and  the  j^reat  (Jull'of  St.  Lawrence, 
and  giivo  to  France  the  boundless  rejiioii  of  Canada. 

Cartier,  as  stated,  made  two  voyaixes,  the  tirst  in  loJU,  on 
which  occasion  he  disco*  cred  Canada;  the  se(!ond  in  l^B"), 
on  which  occasion  three  tine  vessels  Aven;  fitted  out  l»y  the 
French  kinji",  Francis  I.  (the  suuk;  who  twelve  years  Ix^fore 
sent  out  Veri'azano,  1.")2.") ),  for  a  voyati'e  to  Acadia.  Ivu'h 
ciinicd  a  complement  of  sixty  men.'  Cartier  was  a  hold  and 
skiltul  pilot  of  St.  ]\Ialo,  a  seajjort  in  the  north-west  of 
France,  in  the  Province  of  Ih'ctaij^ue.  This  little  town  hud 
heen,  like  Palos  in  Spain,  intimately  coimected  with  the 
vairue  i)rc-C()luml)iau  traditions  of  the  unknown  comilrv  of 
the  West,  which,  doubtless,  inspired  its  children  with  the 
spirit  of  advent lU'e. 

Jac(|ues  Cartier  set  out  on  his  lirst  voyage  on  the  2()th  of 
April,  ir)3-l,  and,  Ibllowiuir  the  example  of  Cabot,  held  a  duo 
western  course.  On  the  lotii  of  May,  at'ter  a  very  (juick 
passaire  of  twenty  days,  he  sighted  land,  almost  at  the  same 
point  which  Cabot  had  m:id(^  thirty-seven  years  before, 
namely,  tlu^  ))eautiful  headland  of  Uonavista.  lie  found  this 
cape  so  nuich  beset  with  ice  that  he  was  constrained  to  steer 
more  to  the  south,  and  take  refuge  in  a  harl)or  about  live 
leagues  to  the  south-east.  This  harbor  is  called,  in  the  nar- 
ratives of  the  voyage,  St.  Cathei-iiKi's  Haven.  Dr.  Midlock, 
si)eaking  of  this  name,  attributes  it  to  the  Spanish  voyagers. 
"The  soft  Spanish  word  for  Catherine,  Caialhia,  like  Kath- 


II  a|i|it'ars  tliiil  liu  niiidc  iitliinl  voyage,  in  1541. 


OP   NKWFOrNDLANI). 


69 


Icon  in  Tiifsh."  Hut  it  is  oxiircssly  stilled  1>y  Foiliind  that  it 
was  .so  niiini'd  liy  ( 'artier,  and  on  this  very  oeeasion  of  his 
heinir  oiiliifed  to  laiie  vet'iiixe  tiieiv  from  the  i(  e-iloe.  It  is 
evident,  from  what  we  have  just  wad,  tliat  Carlier  was  a 
man  of  a  tliorouj^hly  rc^liirioiisfui-n  of  mind,  and,  like  Colnm- 
hus  and  Cahot,  fond  of  niimin;ij  places  after  the  saints.     Now, 


^^■^ 


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1 

^  jggimmt^ 

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^kh^KiSl 

f 

^HHr  -si!^ 

-ii,-^"'T|fc(v^  'JSk 

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'^ 

■  ^'^^jir 

IA»'(Jli;s    CM!  III'.I! 

lie  left  St.  Malo  on  tlie  2()tii  of  April,  and  weald  have  1)oen 
just  ten  days  at  sea,  and  ahout  half-way  on  his  voyage,  when 
the  feast  of  the  grejit  Saint  Catherine,  of  Siona  (2()th 
Ajn'il),  oeeurred.  It  is  (juitc  possible  that,  in  performing 
liis  devotions  and  meditation  on  that  day  (ii  practice  never 
neglected  by  these  early  navigators),  he  made  a  vow  or  reso- 
lution to  name  in  her  honcu"  the  tirst  port  he  should  enter. 
Again,  he  may  have  attributed  to  her  intercession  his  safety 
from  a  storm  ;  for,  although  the  voyage  was  a  rather  (juiek  one, 


(0 


ECCLKSIASTICAL   HISTORY 


Vet  it  was  rougli.  Do  l^oiirhourij  says  it  was  ''  Jonr/nc  p(  peni- 
hie" — loiiii'  :ui(l  (lilliciilt  ;  and  Fiu'laiul  uivcs  soiiu;  i)artic'uiar.s 
(p.  22)  ;  "TluTc  \v(M(^  tlir('(>  ships,  —  the  'Graiur  and  'Petit 
Ilenninc."  and  liu' '  Knuillon.'  Carl ier,  with  several  young 
gentlemen  \()hinteers,  was  aboard  the  tirst.  Tiie  shii)s  were 
separated  by  a  suecession  of  violent  tempests,  and  did  not 
reach  their  rendezvous,  Hlane  Sablon,  on  the  coast  of  Labra- 
dor, till  the  2(;th  of  July." 

He  remained  ten  days  in  Catalina,  and  started  northward 
on  the  21st  of  Afay.  He  arrived  at  an  island  callecl  tlu;  Fuidv 
Island,  where  he  filled  his  boats  with  l)irds,  which  were  most 
nunuMous  there.  He  came  to  the  Straits  of  lielle  Isle,  which 
ho  called  (iolfe  des  Chateaux.  This  name,  still  retained  by 
a  cape  and  harltoi'  on  the  Labrador  coast,  was  given  by 
Cart'"r  on  account  of  the  [x'culiar  and  t'antaslic  t'ormation  of 
the  elid's.  They  are  thus  de^^cribed  'l)y  Chapel,  in  tiu;  ''Cruise 
of  the  liosamond,"  LSL"),  p.  l(il  :  This  l>ay '"is  so  called  from 
the  remarkable  restMublance  which  it  bears  to  an  ancient 
castle;  its  turrets,  arches,  looijholi^s,  and  keeps  are  beauti- 
fully represented  by  a  series  of  basaltic  coUunns.  Tlie 
author  could  only  regret  his  inability  to  delineate  this  singu- 
lar headland,  for  it  certainly  [)resented  as  tine  a  hul)ject  for 
the  pencil  of  the  artist  as  the  celebrated  Cave  of  Fingal,  or 
the  no  less  iiote(l  (lianl's  Causeway."'  He  thought  then  that 
this  was  the  only  entrance  to  the  Grand  Gulf.  A  littU;  later 
he  tbund  the  southern  and  wider  entrani-e,  between  Newfound- 
land and  Cape  IJreton.  He  entered  Les  Isletles,  to-day  called 
the  Port  of  liras  d'Or,  —  :i  port  afterwards  called  Port  of 
Phely[)eau.\,  —  visite*!  the  P>a y  of  I'rest  on  the  feast  of  St. 
Barnabas,  Apostle  (June  11),  where  he  had  Mass  celebrated 
for  the  first  lime.  He  revisited  the  coast  of  Newfoundland, 
and  on  the  'M\  of  July  entered  15ay  Chaleur ;  an'-hored  at 
Ls'e  Bonaventure,  Cajje  Perce,  which  he  called  Ca[)  de  1  do 
(Ferland)  ;  entered  Gasix'  Kith  July  and  planted  the  Cross, 
an<l  finally,  on  the  feast  of  St.  Ami  (July  2(1),  lu;  arrived  at 
the  rendezvous  Blanc  Sablon.  On  tin  L'th  August  he  ar- 
rived at  St.  Malo  on  his  return. 


fc 


>  i 


OV   NEVVFOUNDL..Nn. 


71 


^ 


111  tlio  followini;  year  (ir)35)  prcpanitions  on  a  lar2:or  scale 
wen^  made.  The  departure  of  the  brave  mariners  on  their 
perilous  voyage  was  made  the  oceasion  of  a  scene  of  the 
greatest  reliuious  enthusiasm  on  the  part  of  tluiir  fellow- 
citizens.  The  Ahhe  Brasseur  du  Bourbourg  (\).  7)  thus 
describes  it:  "  Keliirion  this  time  miiiiiled  the  pomp  of  its 
solemnities  witn  the  dei)arture  of  tlie  tleet.  All  the  crews, 
with  thi'iroilicers  at  their  heads,  after  having  confi'ssed,  went 
to  the  Cathedral  of  St.  Malo,  and  received  Coinmunion  from 
the  hand  of  the  liishop.  After  that  tlie  ]*relato  gave  them 
his  solcnm  blessing,  and  it  is  to  be  believed  that,  according 
to  tiic  pious  custom  of  the  times,  many  chai)lains  departed 
with  them."  Ferland  (p.  21)  (lescrii)es  it  as  follows:  "On 
Sunday,  tlie  Feast  of  Pentecost,  the  l<!th  of  May  of  tin;  year 
loo"),  by  command  of  tlu;  captain,  and  of  the  free-will  {fjoii 
vouhnr)  of  all,  each  one  made  his  confession,  and  avo  received 
all  togx'ther  Our  Creator  (A^o//'e  Crea'eur)  in  the  Catliedral 
Church  of  St.  Malo,  after  which  we  went  to  present  ourselves 
in  the  sanctuary  (au  cJin'itr)  l)efore  our  reverend  father  in 
God.  ^Fonsieur  of  St.  Malo,  wiio,  in  his  episcoj)al  dignity 
{('kit  ej)/s(:o2)(d),  gave  us  tlu^  liencdiction." 

Twopriests,  or  chapl.'iins  {atandniers),  accompanied  them, 
namely,  Dom  (iiiillMumci  le  IJreton  juid  Doin  Antoine.  From 
that  time  till  the  estal)lishment  of  the  bishopric  of  (Quebec 
(lC)r)8)  the  Bishojjs  of  St.  Maio  had  entire  Jurisdiction  in 
New  France. 

Cartier  set  sail  on  his  second  voyage  on  Wednesday,  the  U»tli 
May,  1  ;").■).■>.  His  tleet  consisted  of  three  vessels  :  the ''Grand 
Ilermine,"  one  hundred  and  twenty  tons,  the  ''  Petit  Ilermine," 
sixty  tons,  and  the  "  Krmillon,"  forty  tons.  lie  steered  di- 
rect for  tlie  Straits  of  Belle  Isl(>.  He  tirst  made  Cape  Tiennot, 
and  then  entered  the  harbor  of  St.  Nicholas,  on  the  Labrador 
coast ;  thence  he  was  blcwii  by  a  gale  to  a  harlior  on  the  New- 
foundland coast,  on  the  lOtli  of  August,  the  Feast  of  St.  Law- 
rence, and  he  named  it  in  honor  of  the  saint.  This  place  is 
described  as  ji  "very  beautiful  harbor,  full  of  islands  and  with 
many  entrances,  and  good  anchor.'igc  in  all  weathers  .  .  .  there 


72 


ECCLESIASTICAL   HISTORY 


is  ail  island  like  a  head  of  land  {vaj)  tie  terre),  which  stands 
out  i)c>yond  the  others.""  Charlevoix  remarks  how  the  name  of 
St.  Lawrence,  ijiveii  to  this  harbor,  afterwards  extended  to  the 
whole  <rulf,  ealli'd  before  "the  River  of  Canada."  Comparing 
Cartier"s  description  with  that  of  Caiitain  Baytield  (Sailing 
DiiHH'tions,  Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence),  we  tiiid  it  to  be  the  harltor 
now  called  St.  Genevieve.  "The  islands  of  St.  Lawrence 
are  nine  leagues  from  Port  aux  Esijuimaux,"  says  Rev.  AL 
Planmiodon,  missionary  priest.  "  I  was  struck  by  the  re- 
semblance of  the  Bay  of  St.  Genevieve  with  St.  Lawrence, 
described  liy  Cartier  ;  you  cannot  be  mistaken.  T  recognized 
the  inountain  formed  like  an  ear  of  corn  {tan  de  bU)  ;  to-day 
it  is  called  Partridge  Head.  1  saw  the  great  isle,  like  a  cap 
de  terre,  which  .'ulvances  beyond  the  others,"  etc.  Another 
account,  however,  states  that  he  landed  on  the  Island  of  Cape 
Breton,  and  built  a  fort  near  Cape  North.  He  named  the 
island  "  St.  Lawrence,'"  thou<rh  it  had  been  called  by  the 
English  before  that  time  Capi^  Biitton,  as  apjiears  in  the  ac- 
count of  the  voyage  of  the  "Dominus  Wibiscum"'  in  1527.  In 
Ilore's  Voyages,  lf)o(),  it  is  called  Cape  Breton,  and  in  the 
time  of  Chaniplain,  ]()()8,  this  name  began  to  prevail.  There 
is  still  a  cai)e  near  Cape  North  called  Cape  St.  Lawrence, 
which  a})pears  on  Varrese's  map,  ir)5().  "It  is  (Nstablished 
beyond  doul)t"  {constate),  says  Cheauveau  ("Instruction  Pub- 
licpie  en  Canada"),  "that  in  those  tirst  two  voyages  elac(iues 
Cartier  had  jjriests  with  him  ;  that  Mass  was  said  for  the  tirst 
time  in  New  France,  at  tiie  harbor  of  Brest,  now  Old  Fort, 
on  the  coast  of  Labrador,  on  the  11th  of  Jime"  (the  Feast  of 
St.  Barnabas,  Apostle,  1.53-1)  ;  "but  it  does  not  afjpear  that 
these  priests  were  able  to  instruct  or  t!vangeli/(^  the  Indians." 
Since,  then,  we  know  that  then'  were  priests  with  Cartier,  and 
again  that  he  remained  ten  days  at  Catalina  before  visiting 
Labrador,  it  is  more  than  probabl';  that  ]Mass  was  celebrj'.ted 
there,  and,  if  so,  it  would  be  the  first  time  and  i)lace  in  which 
the  Holy  Sacrifice  was  oll'ered  in  Newfoundland,  or  in  all 
North  America,  as  far  as  we  have  any  authentic  record. 
It  has  already  been  remarked  that  we  have  no  record  of 


:..^-..:,.tuitMMaauitaMibs3mtt>m 


OF   NEWFOUNDLAND. 


73 


\ 


any  minister  of  the  Knirlisli  Church  accompanying  the  expe- 
dition of  Sir  IIuniphr(\v  (Jiibert.  l?iit,  since  lie  came  witli 
the  o.\j)ress  intention  of  establishing  the  Protestant  form  of 
worshij),  it  is  more  than  likely  that  he  1)rouuht  some  minis- 
ter with  him  and  established  him  in  the  country.  If  so,  the 
mission  nuist  have  failed,  for  ^ve  hear  nothing  of  it.  In  the 
year  Ki.'iS  an  enactment  was  passed  by  the  Star  Chamber,  to 
the  eHect  that  in  Newfoundland  "  Divine  service  should  be 
performed,  according  to  the  ceremonial  of  the;  Clnu'cii  of 
Kngland,  on  Sundays."  AVhether  this  necessarily  imi)lies 
the  presence  in  the  country  of  a  minister  or  clergyman  of 
that  church,  or  not,  I  iim  not  sutficiently  initiated  to  pro- 
nounce. 

We  know,  from  the  colonial  papei's  preserved  in  the  Kecord 
Office  in  lioudon,  tiiat  there  was  a  minister  of  the  Protes- 
tant Churi'h  in  Xewfoundlaud  at  the  time  of  Lord  Balti- 
more's settlement  (1()22),  whose  name  was  Stourton.  It  is 
j)robable  that  he  cami'  out  with  the  colony  of  John  Guy,  some 
few  years  befon^  (KilO).  lie  came  to  trouble  with  Lord 
P»altimore,  as  shall  be  seen  farther  on. 

This  was  probal)ly  the  first  attemjjt  at  the  performance  of 
missionary  work  by  the  ministers  of  the  Iveformed  Ciuirch 
in  the  New  World.  The  Plymouth  P^ilhers  did  not  come  out 
to  New  England  till  tlie  year  1(J2().  "The  Protestant  citi- 
zens of  the  United  States,"  says  De  Courcy  ("History  of 
Church  in  America,"  Cliap.  I.),  "boast  of  the  Puritan  settle- 
ment in  New  Lngland  as  the  cradle  of  their  race;  but  long 
before  tin;  Sei)aralists  lauded  at  Plymouth  in  1(520,  and  while 
the  English  settlers  hugged  the  Atlantic  shore,  too  inditferent 
to  instruct  in  Christian'*  v  the  Indians  whose  hunting- 
grounds  they  hjid  usurped,  other  jiortions  of  the  continent 
were  evangeli/ed  from  north  to  south,  and  t'rom  east  to 
west." 

Even  Baiicrott,  a  Protestant  writer,  l>ears  testimony  to  the 
fecundity  of  the  Catholic  missions.  After  drawing  a  magniti- 
cent  picture  of  the  .Jesuit  missionaries,  whose  early  ex|)lo- 
rationsofthe  wilderness,  evi'U  from  a  scientilic  and  cominer- 


74 


ECCLESIASTICAL    HISTORY 


ciiil  ))oin<  of  view,  must  win  the  iidmivation  of  all,  ho  adds, 
"Thus  did  the  religious  zeal  of  the  French  hear  the  Cross 
to  the  l)anks  of  the  St.  Mary  and  the  eontines  of  fjake  Supe- 
rior, and  look  wistfully  towards  the  homes  of  the  Sioux  in 
the  valley  of  the  Mississijjpi,  tivc  years  before  the  New 
Kniiland  Kliot  had  addressed  the  tribe  of  Indians  that  dwelt 
within  six  miles  of  lioston  Harbor." 

For  several  years  innnediatelv  suoeeedinii'  the  unsuoeess- 
ful  altemi^t  at  colonization  by  Sir  IIum|)hrey  (iilbert  we 
read  of  isolated  voyages  made  to  Newfoundland,  l)ut  no 
organized  etl'ort  at  forming  a  settlement.  In  1;")9.')  Kieh- 
ard  Strange,  of  Apham,  made  a  voyage  with  the  intention  of 
prosecuting  the  seal-tishery.  He  made  his  head-(juarters  at 
Kamea.  on  the  southern  coast.  In  the  following  year,  15il4, 
we  read  of  a  voyage  of  Cajjtain  Kicliard  .b)nes.  From  this 
time  forward  numerous  ships  came  out  annually,  and  the 
eoast  was  harassed  by  pirates.  In  1. ")!>(!  the  French  jjirate 
Michel  de  Sanci  cai)tured  the  Fngiish  lishing-captain 
Kichard  Clarke,  These  pirates  infested  our  coasts  for  man}' 
years.  AN'hitbourne,  writing  in  lOlS,  s[)eaks  of  the  arch- 
pirate  I'eter  Fast  on,  who  kept  him  a  })i."soner  for  eleven 
days.  Thei'c  was  also  a  celebrated  French  j)irate  of 
Kochelle,  one  Daniel  Tibolo,  and  he  (Whitl)ounie)  tells  us 
that  then;  were  even  pirates  from  Darbaiy  cruising  on  our 
coasts,  so  valual)le  were  the  prizes  of  tish  and  "  trayne  oil." 
This  ani\oyance  from  the  pirates  was  also  one  of  the  causes 
of  the  failure  of  Lo.a!  IJaltimore's  colony,  as  we  shall  see. 

In  1")!>7  Charles  Leigh  and  Al»raham  \'an  Ilerwick,  two 
London  merchants,  came  out  to  Newfoundland.  About  the 
beginning  of  the  seventeenth  century  tlu'  tisheries  began  for 
the  lirst  time  to  enlist  considei'able  attention  in  Fngland. 
French  lishermen  had  already  })rosecuted  the  industry  to 
such  an  extent  that,  in  the  year  I.'jT.S,  there  were  no  less  than 
one  hundred  and  tifty  vessels  on  the  coast,  smd  before  the 
year  KiO!)  one  French  tisluu'man  had  made  more  than  forty 
voyages  to  America. 

About   this   time  Newfoundland    narrowlv  escaped  beinir 


«. 


OF   NEWFOUNDLAND. 


75 


taken  possession  of  1)y  the  French.  The  attemi)te(l  colony 
of  (Quebec  by  Kobervillc  and  De  la  Kocjue  havinir  disas- 
trously failed,  Le  Manjuis  de  la  IJoche,  a  Breton  iicntlenian, 
in  ir)ll8  was  jriven  a  patent,  with  anipU^  rights  to  found  a 
colony  ill  Xewlbiindlaiid ;  but  havin<2^  imprudently  chosen 
for  the  site  of  his  settlement  the  miserable^  sand-bank  known 
as  Sable  Island,  ail  his  followers,  after  unspeakal)le  liard- 
shi])s,  ])erished.  Thus  NewfouiuUaiid  still  remained  a  British 
colony. 

In  1000  the  Sieurs  de  Ch:iuviii  and  Pontii'rave,  merchants 
of  St.  Malo,  received  from  the  French  kiiiir,  I)y  royal  patent, 
the  mono})oly  of  the  fur  trade.  They  estal)lished  themselves 
at  Tadousac,  at  (he  mouth  of  the  Sauuenay.  A  previous 
unsuccessful  attempt  to  colonize  Sable  Island  had  been  made 
by  the  Baron  de  Lcry  and  St.  Just  in  l.")liS,  and  auain  by  the 
Portuiiiiesc  ill  l,"),")o.      (Fcn'land,  "Hist,  du  Canada."') 

In  1(!0*J  .lolin  Guy,  a  merchant  and  alderman  of  Bristol, 
foruuMl  the  "  Xewfoundlaud  Company, "  and  prepared  to 
enter  on  colonization  on  a  lariiH'r  scale  and  in  a  more  oriiaii- 
izcd  manner.  The  Conii)aiiy,  consistinii'  of  Bristol  and  Lon- 
don merchants,  was  duly  authorized,  and,  as  usual,  received 
a  most  generous  patent  from  His  Majesty  King  James  I. 
The  i)atent  covered  all  Newfoundland  "from  the  4(P  to  the 
i)'!"^  of  north  latitude,  together  with  the  seas  and  islands 
lying  within  tcMi  leagues  of  the  coast."  Among  the  members 
of  this  comiiany  were  the  Farl  of  Xorthami)t()n,  Keeper  of 
the  Privy  Seal,  and  Sir  Francis  Bacon.  It  is  a  mistake  to 
speak  of  this  n()l)lem!m  as  "  Lord  liacon,"  as  is  gcMierally 
done  by  writ(>rs  of  histories  of  Xewfoundlaud.  (See 
Harvey  and  Hatton.  J).  2\.)  There  was  no  such  title.  At 
this  time  he  was  siin|)ly  Sir  Francis  Bacon.  He  was  after- 
wards raised  to  the  titles  of  Lord  \'erulain  in  KIIS,  when  he 
was  made  Lord  Chancellor  of  England,  and  \'iseount  St. 
Albans  in  1(121.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Pri\y  Council  of 
James  I.,  and  Keeper  of  the  Great  Seal.  He  was  a  man  of 
considerabh^  h>ariiiiig  and  great  literary  taste.  After  the 
fashion  of  the  public  men  of  the  day  he  gave  a  good  deal  of 


76 


KCCLESIASTICAL   IIISTOUV 


jittcntioii  1o  coloniziitioii.  He  lent  his  name  to  tho  Bristol 
Conipjuiy,  but  beyond  that  he  does  not  seem  to  have  talvon 
nuu'h  interest  in  the  enterprise.  In  his  "  Ilistoria  Naturalis 
Kxperinientalis  '"  he  spealcs  of  the  rigor  of  tlie  elimale  of 
Newfoundhmd,  and  expUiins  it  by  the  Aretie  enrrenl  and 
fogs. 

Mr.  John  (iuy  was  apjiointed  first  governor  of  th(>  new 
settlement,  and  John  Slaney,  merchant  of  Ijondon,  tirst 
treasurer.  Jolui  (uiy  came  out  with  his  family  and  a 
company  of  about  forty  persons,  in  three  sjn'])s,  in  IGIO. 
It  lias  been  stated  by  all  writers  on  the  early  history  of 
Newfoundland  that  Guy  cstablish(>d  his  colony  at  i\Iost|uito 
[see  Not(>  1],  a  sniidl  covt'  between  Harbor  Grace  and  Car- 
l)onear.  Researches,  however,  lately  inad(^  by  .fames  1*. 
Ilowley,  F.G.S.,  as  already  remarked,  have  brought  to  light 
the  original  letters  written  from  Newfoundland  l)y  ,Tohn 
Guy  to  John  Slaney,  which  letters  are  dated  from  Cnpers 
Cove.  yiv.  Ilowley  has  no  doubt  whatever  that  the  site  was 
not  ]\Ios(iuito,  but  the  settlement  some  miles  tarther  south,  in 
Conception  liay,  now  called  Cupid's.  In  fact,  the  name  had, 
as  he  shows,  taken  this  corrupted,  or  rather  imj)roved,  form 
at  a  very  early  date,  for  Sir  William  Aleximder,  the  colo- 
nizer of  Nova  Scotia  (1().'5()).  says,  "The  first  houses  for 
inhabitants  were  built  at  Cupidii  Cove,  Hay  of  Conce})tion." 
Mr.  Ilowh^y  thussi)eaks  of  Mos(piito  :  "  Tlu^  nidikcdihood  of 
s(decting  so  bleak  and  (exposed  a  situation  as  Mosipiito  does 
not  appear  to  have  occurred  to  any  person.  With  nothing 
to  recommend  it  either  as  a  hari)<)r  for  shipping  or  in  th<; 
fertility  of  its  soil  ;  .  .  .  neither  do(>s  it  appear  that 
any  relics,  remains  of  buildings,  etc..  were  ever  discovered 
there."  With  regard  to  Cupid's  he  says  :  "  Nowhere  else 
was  there  to  be  met  with  a  more  choice  locality.  It  is 
prol)al)le  that  it  included  the  entire  Bay  <le  (irave.  The 
long  line  of  shinufle  beach,  with  the  l.'iii'oon  in  the  real',  now 
so  well  known  as  Clark's  licach,  together  with  the  two 
beautiful  estuaries  of  Northern  and  Soutlu'rn  rivers,  would 
offer  just  such  attractions  in  their  then  jjrimeval  beauty." 


J 


OF   NEWFOUNDLAND. 


77 


^ 


Guy  imiiiodiiitcly  set  aliout  huildiiiu'  u  fort  iiiid  erect iiig 
houses,  and  inadc  iui  cuelosure  oue  hundred  and  twenty  feet 
by  ninety  feet,  on  wliich  he  mounted  cannon.  II(!  remained 
two  years  in  the  country,  and  in  his  letters,  lately  published 
by  Mr.  Ilowley,  speaks  hiijhly  of  the  climate  and  natural 
resources.  By  his  prudences  and  kintlness  he  conciliated  the 
Red  Indians,  and  oi)en<!d  up  a  trade  with  them.  His  princi- 
pal object  was,  no  doubt,  commercial  enterpris(>  ;  but  thouuh 
we  lia\e  no  account  of  his  briniiini;  any  mii\isters  of  reliiiion 
with  him,  still  he  seems  to  have  had  in  vi(>w,  at  least  as  a 
secondai'y  oliject,  the  conversion  of  the  savages.  A  special 
mention  of  this  purpose  is  made  in  the  i)atent  of  James  1.  to 
the  Bristol  Comi)any.  "ThinUinu'  it  a  matter  and  action 
well  beseemini!:  a  Christian  Kinu'  to  make  tru(!  use  of  that 
which  God  from  the  bei>innin<i'  created  for  maid<ind,  and 
therefore  intendiui:"  not  oidv  to  worker  and  i)rocure  tlu'  uood 
and  beni'tit  of  many  of  our  sul)Jects,  but  principally  to  in- 
crease the  knowledge  of  the  ()nmi[)ol(!nt  God,  and  the 
Proi)agati()n  of  our  Christian  Faith." 

Guy  .sent  on  Cai)tain  W'hittington  "  into  the  bottom  of  Trin- 
ity l»ay,  a  })lace  always  fre(|uented  by  the  natives."  (Kirke.) 
He  had  some  interviews  with  the  Indians,  but  we  find  no 
account  at  this  time  of  any  attempt  to  evang(dize  them. 
Trade  and  Iratlic  were  the  paramount  idea.  Kirke,  in  the 
letter  ((uoted  from  above,  says,  "  Akhn'nian  CJiiy  continued 
with  his  family  in  Xewfoimdland  two  yeares  and  amongst 
other  designs  es[)ecially  aymed  at  a  trade  with  the  Indians." 
In  describing  a  meeting  between  ^^'h!ttington  and  the  Indians 
he  says,  "And  they  dideate  and  tlrinke  together  for  tlu;  s[)ace 
of  three  or  four  hours  and  exchanged  furs  and  deere  skins  for 
hatchetts  and  kniues."  H(^  says  that  for  years  many  French 
and  liiscayans  have  traded  with  tlie  natives  of  the  country. 
He  bears  the  following  testimony  to  their  shrewdness: 
"  We  can  assure  you  .  .  .  that  if  you  had  been  amongst 
thcni  you  had  beene  confuted  to  the  puri)ose  with  the  hardest 
bargaine    that  ever  you  concluded  since  you  were  men  of 


business. 


78 


ECCLESIASTICAL   IIISTOKV 


("IIAl'TEW    V 


I 


JOHN   (irVS  (SETTLEMENT.— [IfilO-lGlS.] 

I'iiiliiii"  of  .lolin  (iiiy's  Cdldiiy — InlcicniirM!  willi  Kcil  Iiuliaiis  —  Cruel  Treatment 
111'  lliciii  by  Eiii;li«li  Sailor-* — DiU'icullics  helwcfii  I'laiitcr-i  and  Eislicnui;ii  — 
WliilliDunii'  Arrivi-i  a-^  ( 'oiiiMiissidiicr,  1(11")  —  .lolm  (iiiy  .Vbaiidoii'*  his  Colony 
ami  Itcturn-;  to  Kn;;lan(l  —  Wliitlionrnc  Si>nt  ont  liy  l)r.  Van^'hau  to  Foiuul 
a  Colony  at  Ferryianil,  1018  —  Calvert'^  View-i  on  Colonization. 

VT  tlu'  liiiic  of  the  inception  ol"  the  colony  in  Concep- 
tion l)!iy  nndcr  -lohn  (iuy  ;iii(l  his  l>iistoI  jind  Lon- 
don coinp.'iny,  a  youni:'  man  canic^  to  the  front  in  Knulisli 
diplomatic  circles  who  was  soon  to  tal<e  a  leading  phice  in 
the  colonization  nioveinent,  and  who  was  to  hrini:'  forward 
into  a  more  ])rominenl  jxtsition  the  relijiious  element  in  the 
British  Plantation  si-hemes. 

This  was  (ieorii-e  Calvert,  afterwards  Lord  P>altimorc. 
Althouuh  it  does  not  apjjcar  thtit  Calvert  took  any  active  or 
actual  })art  in  the  formation  of  (Juy's  colony,  yet  it  is  c(!rtain 
that  even  l)efore  that  time  he;  had  turned  his  mind  to  the 
sul>ject  of  Plantiition,  and  had  formed  distinctly  pronounced 
views  on  themattei'.  —  \  iews  which  he  afterwards  endeavored 
to  put  ill  practice  in  his  colony  of  Ferryland,  and  which  he 
so  successt'ully  cairied  out  in  his  colony  of  Maryland  as  to 
cause  it  to  he  held  up  as  a  model  to  :ill  future  colonic.'s. 

In  a  passage  in  the  "  Hililiographia  Jiritannica"  a  contrast 
is  made  hetweeu  the  views  of  Chief  Justice  JV)pham  and  those 
of  Calvert  on  the  sul)jc(t  of  colonization.  "  Judge  Pophaiu 
and  he  agreed  in  the  public  design  of  foreign  plantations, 
hut  diil'ered  in  the  manner  of  managing  them.  The  tirst  was 
for  extirpating  the  original  inlial)ilants,  the  second  for  con- 
verting them.  'IMie  former  sent  the  lewdest  people  to  those 
places;  the  latter  the  soberest.  The  one  was  for  making 
present  profit,  the  other  for  a  reasonahle  exi)ectation." 


I 

i 

i 

11 


OF  NKWFOrNDLAND. 


79 


fTu(l<ro  roplumi  (lied  in  1()()7.  Calvert  was  then  Jihoiit 
tw('iity-ci_nlit  years  ot'niics  and  was  a  clerk  in  the  service  ol' 
Sir  Ivohert  Cecil,  in  flie  Treasury  Departtiiciil,  so  that  it 
may  possibly  '-eCer  to  Calvert's  views  at  a  later  period  as  at 


i,()i;n   liAi.iiMoiii:. 


that  time.  As  far  as  \\v  know  he  had  not  taken  any  pnl)Iic 
part  in  colonial  matters,  and  was  not  in  a  position  of  snth- 
eient  importance;  to  have  Ix'cn  ({noted  in  0[)i)()sition  to  Jndue 
Popham.  At  the  lime  of  (Jny's  colony,  1610,  he  had  l)een 
promoted  ^o  the  position  of  clerk  of  the  Privy  Conncil. 
There  can  bo  no  donI)t,  then,  that  ho  took  a  most  lively 
interest  in  the  new  colony,  as  we  find  him  soon  after  (1()20) 


«0 


KCCLKSIASTK^VL    IlISTOItY 


ont(M"inir  (loc))ly  into  the  project  himself  iil  Forryliiiid.  Miiiiy 
causes  coinhincd  lo  cuiisc  llic  failure!  of  (luy's  colony,  anionj; 
which  luusl  tii'st  l>c  mentioned  the  incursions  of  the  Indians, 
as  iit  the  case  of  Lord  Baltimore,  sul)se(iuently,  at  Ferryhind  ; 
hut  iVom  the  account  <ii\cn  I)y  Kirkc.  from  which  we  have 
([uoted,  it  would  appear  that  the  Euroj)eans  were  irenerally 
the  tirst  aiT^rcssors  in  those  skirmishes  with  the  Indians. 
On  the  occasion  (dsowhere  s[)oken  of,  the  interview  between 
Captain  ^^'hittini;•ton  and  the  Indians  in  Trinity  I>ay.  it  was 
aureed  that  a  meetinu-  should  !»>  held  the  next  year  ''  by  a 
sii^ne  (as  is  their  manner  in  other  parts  of  America),  wIhmi 
the  irrass  siiould  be  ol' such  a  heiiihl,  to  brinii"  down  all  their 
furs  and  skins  for  tralli(|ne  with  th(!  Knu'lish.  ...  It 
soe  fell  out  that  the  next  yeare,  at  llu'  time  ajipointed  for 
their  meetiiiii'c  .  .  .  instead  of  ('aj)tain  ^^'hittin^•ton 
there  came  a  iisherman  .  .  .  and  seeinij^  a 
com])anie  of  Indians  .  .  .  let  lly  his  shott  from  aboard 
amonii'st  them  .  .  .  and  they  .  .  .  retyred  innnediately 
into  the  woode  and  from  that  day  to  this  have  soujihl  all 
occasion  e\ cry  lishiniic  season  to  do  all  tin;  mischief  they  can 
amouii'st  the  tishermen.*'  A^'hitl)ourne  also  describes  an  act 
of  robbery  committed  upon  a  party  of  Indiiins  at  the  harbor 
of  Heart's  Ease,  at  the  north  side  of 'Pi-inity  Hay.  The  mari- 
ners of  the  ship  "  Tapson,"  of  Devon,  "  beinj:;  I'obbcd  in  the 
niii'ht  of  their  apparell  did  the  next  <lay  seeke  after  them, 
and  hapi)ened  to  come  suddeidy  where  they  had  set  up  three 
tents  and  were  feast inii'.  They  had  three;  canoes,  oreat  store 
of  fowle's  egues,  skins  of  Deere,  lieavers,  IJeares,  Scahvs, 
Otters,  and  divers  other  tine  skins,  which  were  excellent 
well  dressed  :  as  also  ii'reat  store  of  seuerall  sorts  of  Jl(>.sh 
dryiMl :  and  by  shootinu' otf  a  nmsquet  towards  them,  they 
all  ran  away  naked  .  .  .  all  their  threi- canowcs,  their  llesh- 
skins,  yolkes  of  egi^'es,  tarirets,  liowes  and  Arrowes  and  much 
tine  Okar,  and  divers  other  thiniis  they  tookc;  and  broniiht 
away,  and  shared  amonu'  those  that  took  it."'  Thus  we  see 
the  oriuin  of  that  feud  between  whiti;  man  and  Indian  which 
terminated  in   the  extinction  of  the  savages.     We  need  not 


/ 


I 


'>i 


i)V    NKWFOUNDLANl). 


81 


m 


wonder,  tlioii,  t!i  \wiiv  of  sncli  sjjocdy  ami  t(MTil)Ii>  voprisals  as 
those  (l('scril)c(l   hy  Sir  David   KirUo. 

"In  llic-  Harbor  of  Lc's  ()ua,i:('s."  lie  says,  "about  ciiilily 
Indians  assaulted  a  company  of  Frenchnieu  wliile  tlicy  were 
pleyinii'e  u))])  tlieir  fisliini!(\  and  sicnve  si'vcn  of  tiieui  ;  pro- 
coedinge  a  little  further,  killed  nine  more  in  tlie  same  man- 
ner, and  clotliiiiue  sixteen  of  their  (.'omi)any  in  tlu^  apparel! 
of  the  slayne  I'^reneh,  they  went  on  th(^  next  day  to  the 
llaihor  of  Petty-Masters,  and  not  heiniz'  suspeelisd.  by  reason 
of  tlieir  hal)it,  they  snri)rise(l  (hem  at  their  works  and  killed 
twenty  one  more.  Soc;  in  two  days  havinu'  barbarously 
niaymed  thirty  se\('n,  they  returned  home,  as  is  their  Man- 
ner in  li'reat  triumph,  with  the  heads  of  the  Slayne  I'^rench- 
meu." 

Add  to  these  eanses  the  troubles  which  (ioveruor  (luy  had 
to  contend  with  aniouiithe  lisherinen.  The  charter  or  patent 
of  colonization  reserved  the  rii:hts  of  lishini:'  on  the  coasts  to 
all  comers,  Kuiilish  or  others;  but  many  al)uses  and  bad 
customs  crept  in.  tiud  the  li'overnor  issuc(l  a  |)roclamation  in 
onU'r  to  repress  them,  lie  also  la  d  a  tax  u|)ou  their  car- 
goes, and  levied  some  uthci"  exactions.  This  excited  com- 
plaints amonii'  the  tishermen.  They  iirnored  and  rcpudiatetl 
the  j)roclamatiou.  and  sent  in  a  petition  and  divers  complaints 
to  the  I'rivy  Council.  They  complaiuc(l.  J'\'r.s/,  that  the 
"planters"  had  ex|)elle(l  them  from  some  of  the  best  iishinir 
harbors.  tSecomlli/,  That  their  provisions  had  bi'cn  seized  ])y 
the  "planters."  Tlnrdh/,  That  they  had  been  prevented  from 
takin«^  birds  for  bait  for  tishinu' :  and  that  i)irates  were  \w\-- 
iiiitted  to  harbor  on  the  coast  to  their  lireat  amioyance. 
(Kirke,  "CoiKjuest  of  Canada,"  ]>.  KlS.)  These  complaints 
were  forwarded  ])y  the  Kai'l  of  Hath,  October,  1()1<S.  They 
"Were  all  and  siniily  I'cbutted  and  denied  l»y  the  })lanters. 
They  conii)lained  of  tlu^  disortlers  of  the  tishermen  and  of 
pirates,  and  petitioned  for  naval  jiroteetion.  To  remedy  this 
state  of  confusion  Sir  liichard  Whitbourne  was  sent  out 
with  a  commission  from  the  Admiralty  to  empanel  juries 
and  try  disorderly  tisliermen.     AVe   have  already  •xivei  ,  in 


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23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y    14580 

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vV 


^2 


ECCLESIASTICAL   HLSTOHY 


Whitl)()unu''s  own  langiiago,  an  account  of  his  arrival  on 
Trinity  Sunday,  June  4,  1(51'),  at  Trinity  Harbor,  and  of  his 
holding  the  first  court  of  justice  in  the  i.shuid.  He  drew  ui) 
several  statutes  to  remedy  prevalent  abuses,  such  as  "Work- 
ing on  Sal)I)ath,  stealing  salt,  boats,  hooks,  lines,  nets, 
idling  about  during  working  tinu\" 

All  these  increasing  difficnlt'es  caused  Governor  Guy  to 
lose  heart  in  the  settlement,  s(  that,  as  before  stated,  he  re-, 
tired  with  his  family  after  two  years'  sojourn  in  the  Island, 
and  llie  settlement  grjidually  sank  into  insigniticance  l)efore 
the  newly  rising  settlenuMit  in  the  South,  though,  for  some 
years  after,  a  governor  was  left  in  charge  of  the  settlenuMit. 
In  the  year  1021,  .John  Mason  being  governor,  all  the  rights 
of  the  company  were  bought  out  by  Sir  George  Calvert. 

We  have  seen  that,  in  the  year  KUo,  Kichard  Whitbourne 
came  out  couuuissioner  to  exercise  judicial  authority  in  Xew- 
fouudlaud.  It  would  appear  that  this  conunission  expired 
soon  after,  as  we  lind  from  his  own  narratives  that  he  wa>* 
again  in  Newfoundland  on  his  own  account,  the  following 
year,  KiKi,  "  with  a  ship  of  100  ton,"  and  that  on  her  retuiu 
voyage  she  was  rilled  by  "a  French  Pyrate  of  Kochell  one 
Daniel  Tibolo." 

About  the  following  3'ear,  1(517,  T^r.  Vaughan  ]nirchased 
from  the  })atentees  of  the  Newfoundland  C"omi)any  a  trai-t 
of  land  in  the  southern  part  of  the  country,  of  which  he  ap- 
pointed Whitbourne  governor.  This  plantation  was  mtended 
to  be  set  up  at  Ferryiaiul.  Whether  any  actual  settlement 
was  made  on  the  sjjot  is  not  quite  certain.  Whitbourne 
states  that  he  came  out  in  the  year  1(518  to  found  this  plan- 
tation, and  that  one  of  his  ships  was  "  intercei)ted  by  an 
Knglish  erring  Captaine  who  went  forth  with  Sir  Walter 
Kawleigh.  He  took  the  master,  boatswain  and  two  of  the 
l)est  men,  and  all  the  victuals,"  and  thus  hindered  the 
plantation. 


/ 


OF   NEWFOUNDLAND, 


83 


■ 


/ 


CHAPTER  VI. 

FERUYLAN'I).  —  [IGlS-lG'i'i.] 

Sir  (Jcorpc  Ciilvovt —  Ilis  Early  Ciirocr —  ISaiicrol't's  IJij^otrv —  Calvert's  Convci'sion 
—  His  Knlliiisia<m  —  "  A  liallimorc  IViiiiy  "  —  Colony  of  Maiylaiul  — •  Lord  IJiil- 
tiriioro's  Spirit  of  Toleration — ^  I'erseciilion  of  I'opery  by  the  Protestant  Parlia- 
ment, l()."il. 

SUCri  \v:is  till)  state  of  iiU'airs  in  tlic  colony  when  Sir 
Goori;o  CalvtM't  hcuiin  to  tnrn  his  mind  nion^  earnestly 
towards  the  Avork  of  colonization.  At  the  time  of  the  foun- 
dation of  the  Newfoundland  Company  (1(!U'J)  Calvert  was,  as 
we  staled,  ahout  twenty-nine  years  of  a_i»e.  lie  was  horn 
ahout  the  year  I'jTS,  of  a  respe('tMl)le  family  of  Iii[)lin<i-,  in 
tho  cliapelry  of  Bolton,  Yorkshire,  and  was  at  that  time  em- 
ployed as  secretary  to  Sir  Itoltert  Cecil,  who  tin;  year  pre- 
vious (1()(>(S)  had  been  a[)p()inted  Lord  1 1  ijih  Treasurer,  so 
that  ho  was  in  a  position  to  be  well  iidbrmed  ui)on  all  mat- 
ters concerninu'  the   new   |)lantati()iis. 

In  tho  year  1(!17  he  was  kniuhted.  He  had  been  educated 
at  Oxford,  and  hud  pass(>d  with  hiuh  honors,  havinji'  pub- 
lished a  Latin  ode  while  an  uiidcriiiaduate  which  ilisnlaved 
jrreat  scholarly  taste.  ( KMehardson. )  In  Kils,  the  same 
year  in  which  Dr.  \'aii_t:hMn  made  his  attempt  to  coloni/e 
Ferryland,  Sir  (Jeorj^-e  was  made  Secretary  of  State  to  the 
King,  who  settliMl  I'l, ()()()  per  annum  upon  him.  (Kirk(>. )  He 
had  married  in  IdOl,  and  his  eldest  son,  Cecil  (named  after 
hi>  (|UOM(lam  patron,  and  al'terwards  founder  of  Maryland), 
was  then  (KUS)  jnst  fourteen  years  old.  S' •  (Jeoriio  was 
chosen  by  an  immense'  n'MJority  to  re[)re>ent  m  Parliament 
his  native  county  of  Yorkshire.  His  capacity  for  business, 
his  industry,  and  his  lidelity  an;  acknowiedged  by  all  his- 
torians.  (Bancroft.) 

l)r.  Mullock,  in  his  lectiu-e,  si)eaks  of  Cahert  as  a"/('alous 


iS 


»J 


"^•^•■IPWPIW 


84 


ECCLESIASTICAL   HISTORY 


Catholif  and  most  onliglitcnod  pliilantliropist."  lie  was, 
lu)'.V('V(>r,  a  convert  iVoin  Protestantism.  Bancroft  i^ivcs  the 
lollowinj''  iioncrous  account  of  his  rcliuious  convii-tions  :  "  In 
an  ai>e  when  religious  controversy  still  continued  to  he 
active,  and  when  the  increasin<r  divisions  amoui;  Protes- 
tants  were  spreadinir  a  genend  alarm,  his  mind  sought 
relief  from  controversy  in  the  bosom  of  the  lionian  Catholic 
Clmrch;  and,  i)referring  the  avowal  of  his  opinions  to  the 
emoluments  of  ollice,  he  resigned  Ids  j)laco  and  opcMdy  pro- 
fessed his  conversion."  (Vol.  I.,  Chap.  A'll.)  It  is  to  he 
regretted  that  Bancroft,  in  the  last  revised  and  centenary 
editions  of  his  work  (187.")  and  188.')),  should  have  been 
so  inlluenced  by  a  wave  of  bigotry  that  passed  om'v  the 
American  continent  as  to  change,  or  entirely  omit,  all  the 
several  })!iss;iges  in  which,  in  tifleen  former  editions,  he  had 
done  honor  to  the  nol)le  lilx'iality  of  Calvert  and  to  his  true 
catholic  spirit.  In  the  last  edition  he  states,  on  the  mere  ipse 
(//.r/7of  one  Kev.  .Mr.  Neil,  a  Presbyterian  miidstt'r,  that  most 
of  the  men  brought  over  by  Calvert  Mere  Protestants;  that 
the  colony  was,  in  elfect,  a  Protestant  colony;  and  that 
Lord  P>altimore  was  inlluenced,  not  l»y  ndigious  motives, 
or  the  desire  of  t'ounding  a  colony  where  religious  })ersecu- 
tion  should  not  !)e  tolerated,  but  solely  by  ji  desire  to 
aggrandize  his  family.  For  a  full  and  triumphant  refuta- 
tion of  these  unfair  and  ungen(>rous  stMlements  see  a 
series  of  articles  in  the  "Catholic  World,''  October  and 
Xovember.  188;'),  and  April  and  May,  l-SSl,  by  Rev.  II. 
Clarke,  LL.D.  Mearly  all  the  authors  whom  I  have  read 
stale  that  Calvert  was  a  convert.  Kichardson,  howevei-,  in 
the  articl(»  "A  Baltimore  Pemiy  "'  ("Magazine  of  Ami'iicMu 
History"),  IVom  which  I  have  becMi  drawing  largcdy,  snys 
it  is  not  certain  that  he  was  not  a  Catholic  all  his  litelinie, 
and  that  tlu^  fact  was  only  made  pul)licly  known  on  his 
refusing  to  tak(^  the  oa'th  of  idlegiance.  It  is  well  known 
that  the  taking  of  the  oath  was  frecjuently  evaded,  :in<l  that 
many  Avho  were  privately  known  to  be  Catholics,  or  at  least 
suspected  of    Popish    leanings,  were    allowed    to  go   umuo- 


OF    NKWFOUNDI.AXl). 


85 


li'stod.  Tho  iniincdiato  occasion  of  Calvorl'.s  i)ul»Iic  dcda- 
ralioM  of  his  faith  arose  out  of  Ihe  foMowiiiif  circiunstancos  : 
A  treaty  of  inari'iaiic  had  been  entered  into  between  the 
kini»s  of  Spain  and  Knuland  on  bc^half  of  tht;  Prince  ChaHes 
and  the  Infanta.     Tho  prince,  with  the   Dnke  of   liucking- 


h:ini,  went  to  tiie  court  of  Spain  to  uri:'e  his  own  snit ;  but 
the  result  was  that  the  niatcii  was  Ijroken  off.  Tiiis  was 
received  wilii  joy  by  tlie  people,  who  did  not  wish  a  C'atiiolic 
alliance:  but  it  was  a  source  of  deep  reuret  to  Calvert,  for 
ho  knew  that  it  meant  the  continuance  of  the  penal  laws 
auainst  tho  (.\itholics.  whit-h.  in  tiie  e\  ent  of  the  marriage, 
King  dames  had  promised  to  ndax.      liuckinghain  resented 


86 


ECCLESIASTICAL   HIS  TORY 


Calvert's  (lisiii)pr()V!il,  and  a  coolness  arose  between  them. 
Calvert  resii^ned  liis  ofKce  of  secretary,  but  was  retained  in 
tiie  Privv  Council.  "After  the  coronation  of  Kiiiii' Ciiarles 
(1()25)  the  oath  of  aUei;iance  was  tendered  to  the  Privy 
CounciUors,  l)ut  Lord  I»altiniore  declined  to  re[)eat  the  tbr- 
nnda.  .  .  .  The  o;ith  then  in  use  was  devised  after  the 
discovery  of  the  Gunpowder  IMot  in  KiO."),  and  contained  the 
followinii'  passMiiC :  'I  do  further  swear,  that  I  do  from 
my  lu'arl  abhor,  detest  and  abjure  as  inij)i()us  and  heretical, 
this  (hnnnable  doctrine  and  position,  that  princes  which  b(^ 
excoinnnniicate(l  or  dejjrived  by  the  Vo[h'  may  be  dci)osed 
or  mui'thered  by  their  subjects  or  any  other  whatsoever.' 
Thesi'  words  implied,  and  were  meant  to  imply,  that  a 
susi)ici()n  of  di.sloyalty  and  treason  miiilit  justly  rest  u[)()n 
every  Catholic  subject.  Lord  lialtimorc  refused  to  coun- 
tenance this  suspicion,  ])ut  he  ret:iined  the  kinix's  esteem 
and  friendship  unabated.  "It  was  not  by  Catholics  that  Kini; 
Charles  was  afterwards  dejjoscd  and  nun-dcred,  but  by  a 
Puritan  Parliament.  On  th(>  contrary,  when  Charles  raised 
the  Koyal  Standard,  in  1()H,  apiinst  the  relx'ls,  and  in- 
vited all  his  faithful  subjects  tt)  conn^  forward  in  defence  of 
the  Crown,  the  Roman  Catholics,  ihouiih  fettered  with  pt-nal 
laws,  and  branded  with  the  repute  of  disalfection  towards 
a  Protestant  soverciuii,  hastened  amonn'  tlu;  foremost  to 
testifv  their  lovaltv.  Tliev  levied  troops  at  their  own  ex- 
])ense;  they  marche(l  apiinst  tlui  relicls :  they  sacrilicecl 
their  property,  their  ease,  their  health  and  lives,  for  tlu^ 
Uini:'  and  constitution;  and  this  at  a  time  when  many  of 
their  clergy  were  ii!i(iuitou>ly  dragiicd  like  malefactors  to 
prison,  and  from  [)risou  to  the  gallows."  (Keeves,  "History 
of  the  Church,"  \).  '>!).").)  It  is  generally  thought  that  tlu;  re- 
fusal to  take  the  oath  by  Lord  IJaltimore  in<licated  a  change 
of  religion  :  but  it  is  (juite  possible  that  he  had  never  befoi'e 
l)een  confronted  with  the  oath,  and  thus  his  Catholicity 
was  not  publicl}'  known.  This  does  not  show  any  weak- 
ness of  faith  on  his  j)art,  for,  whenever  seriously  called  upon, 
he  was  always  ready  to  profess  it  at  any  cost.     Thus,  when 


OF   NEWFOUNDLAND. 


87 


u  f(Mv  yojirs  hitor  (1029),  on  loiiviii<^  his  colony  of  Ferry- 
land  iind  arrivini^  in  Viriiinia  for  tlu^  first  tinio,  the  Pnritan 
(lovcrnor  Pott  tendered  him  tiie  oath  of  allcijianco  and 
snpreniaey  whieli  jiad  heen  administered  to  all  the  colonists, 
he  airain  refused  to  take  it.      (Richardson,  j).  20!).) 

Kirko,  who  was  by  no  means  favorahly  disposed  towards 
Calvert,  attributes  his  desire  of  settlement  in  the  New  World 
to  tlu^  necessity  in  which  he  found  himself,  on  account  of 
''his  chanued  reliiiious  views,  of  escaping  from  unpleasant- 
ness in  England,"  after  his  conversion. 

This  is,  however,  doing  but  scanty  justice  to  the  noble 


I  UK    WATF.UVn.I.K   PF.NXY. 


I 


sentiments  mImcIi  really  actuated  Calvert  in  the  ostaI)lish- 
ment  of  his  new  colony.  That  his  religious  convictions 
were  strong  cannot  be  doubted,  from  the  fact  of  his  resign- 
ing, on  account  of  them,  his  position  of  honor  and  emolument 
at  court.  But  the  al'ter-evcMils  of  hi.--  career  show  that  they 
must  have  reached  tlu'  entliusiastic,  if  they  did  not  actually 
verge  upon  the  heioic  His  calling  his  new  colony  by 
the  name  of  Avalon  shows  a  mind  of  ji  high  relii '  is  and 
romantic  turn.  Even  Kirke,  in  a  note  (i)age  144^,  says; 
"It  was  so  calUnl  by  Lord  Baltimore  with  the  idea  that  this 
province  was  the  place  in  America  where  Christianity  was 
iirst  introduced  ;  Avalon  being  the  name  of  an  ancient  place 
in  Somersetshire,  on  which  Glastonbury  now  stands,  and 
which  is  said  to  be  the  place  where  Christianity  was  first 


88 


ECCLKSIASTICAL    HISTORY 


piViU'licd  ill  l>iitiiiii.'"  He  seems  to  liavc  been  so  thor- 
oiijlilily  iiiil)iie(l  with  this  idc;;!  of  estal)lisliiii«;  ("iiristijiiiity  in 
tlie  New  World,  thai  it  lends  ji  liiii>e  to  each  iiieideiit  of  his 
enterprise.  Thus  we  liiid  that  he  <j:ave  the  name  of  "  Tiie  Ark 
of  Avalon  "  to  his  principal  ship,  and  that  of  "  The  Dove  "  to 
her  pinnae(!.  "  And  on  a  coin  Avliieh  he  had  stamped  is 
>een  a  thorn  with  the  motto  '  /Spiiid  ,S(iiirfu.'<'  (sanetilled  by 
the  thorn),  in  allusion  to  the  original  Avalon,  where  there  is 
a  miraculous  thorn  which  blossoms  at  Cluistmas-tide,  and 
is  believed  to  l)e  the  veritable  stall"  of  St.  Joseph  of  Ari- 
mathea,  .  •  .  thus  pieturinjj  himself  at  one  time  as  a 
new  .Iosei)li  of  Arimsithea,  inspired  to  })laiil  the  Christian 
reliuion  in  a  heathen  land  ;  and  auaiii,  as  a  modern  Xoah, 
sailinii,'  in  the  arU  over  the  waste  seas  to  found  a  better 
community  than  that  which  for  liim  was  doomed  and  lost 
beyond  the  watery  horizon." 

The  coin  above  mentioned  is  minutely  described  ))y  Rich- 
ardson in  his  very  learned  article  alrea<ly  (pioted  from. 
'I'lie  subject  is  so  interest in<>'  that,  at  the  risk  of  beinii' 
tedious,  I  here  uivc  an  outline  of  this  curious  relic.  It  was 
discovered  while  niakinii'  some  excavations  in  th«'  village  of 
Watervillc,  M(;.,  in  ffunc,  1(S^^().  It  bears  no  dat(? ;  it  is 
copper,  and  of  exci-Ilent  workmanship.  It  shows  on  obverse 
side  a  liar|)  ov  lyre,  surrounded  by  a  wreath  of  bay-leaves, 
and  bearinii'  the  inscriptions,  beneath  the;  lyre,  "  Or/)/t('ns"  ; 
above,  the  Greek  le.irend,  l/'/l'TflX  .I///.V  .////'  (Ariston 
Men  Aer),  "  T/k;  idr  is  (lie  hesi"  On  the  reverse  is  a  shield 
with  a  cross  in  tield,  surmounted  by  a  mitre  with  crosier  and 
j)roeessional  cross  ;  beneath  tli(^  shield,  a,  thorn  and  an  oak 
branch.  The  Iciieiids  an;,  Itelow,  " Spiud  Sanctufi"' :  al>ove, 
"Pro  patfia  et  A''(tlo)ii(i.''  ("alvert  had  undoulitedly  the 
riu'ht  to  coin  money.  He  was  Lord  J'alatiue  of  Avalon, 
and  h(^  was  also  invested  with  al)solute  e<'clesiastical  as  well 
as  civil  authority;  hence  the  mitre  and  crosier.  The  cross 
and  the  lyre  or  harj)  wen;  ad<)|)ted  from  the  money  struck 
about  this  time  by  Iviiijj^  James,  and  later  (1649)  by  Crom- 
well.    T\h)  cross  was  the  Cross  of  St.  George.     The  liar])  is 


OF   NKWFOUNDLAM). 


81) 


suppojscd  to  liiivo  first  nppciin'd  on  copper  coins,  "  with  llu^ 
purpose,  it  is  belicjved,  of  sendinj;  them  to  Irelniid  if  the  Kiig- 
iish  peopU^  refused  them."  Tiie  word  Ovplicitx  indicates  tlie 
introduction  of  civilization  and  \\w  line  arts.  Spliin  Saiir- 
tiis  has  Iteen  already  explained.  Pro  pafvia  vl  ^[ralouid, 
"For  fatherland  and  Avalon,"  explains  itself.  The  leji'end 
aI)ont  the  j^ood  (juality  of  the  air  seemed  to  puzzle  Mr. 
liichardson,  "Conjecture,"  he  says,  "fails  to  detine  tiio 
siiriiilicancc  of  the  j)hrase";  hut  I  Ihiidv  I  have  found  the 
solution,  for  the  first  irovernor  ot  the  new  coIoiin  of  Fer- 
ry land,  Edward  ^^'ynne,  writiuii'  to  Lord  Baltimore,  in 
1(')22,  speaks  in  jjlowiiii;  tei'uis  of  the  climate,  and  uses  tho 
identical  words,  " 'V\\(\  i\\\\\  is  very  healthful."  Mr.  Kich- 
ardson,  however,  has  since  informed  me  that  he  is  stroiiirly 
iiicline(l  to  believe  that  the  coin  helonus  to  the  JJritish 
Avalon  :  hut  it  seems  not  at  all  likc^ly  that  such  a  coin 
would  lie  made  for  Kniiland,  or,  if  so,  that  it  could  tind  its 
way  to  lh(!  villaj:c  of  A\'aterville. 

"The  strong  religious  si)irit  which  actuated  Lord  Baltimore 
is  aijain  apparent  in  the  foundation  (a  few  years  later)  of 
the  colony  of  Maryland  :  for,  no  way  daunted  l>v  the  t"aihu'(> 
and  disappointments  and  heavy  financial  los>es  met  with  in 
>tewfoundland,  he  enteied  with  the  same  enthusiastic  spirit 
upon  his  secon<l  venture.  \o  sooner  had  he  ohtained  his 
charti'r  for  the  Province  of  Maryland  than  he  innnediately 
Mi)plie(l  to  Father  Blount,  the  first  [)roviiicial  of  the  nc^wly- 
ereated  Kniilish  province  of  tlu^  Jesuits,  and  also  to  Father 
Mutius  A'itelleschi,  the  sixth  <reneral  of  tlu;  Society,  for 
some  of  the  Enirli>h  suhjects  to  ac  Mupauy  tlu>  expedition, 
and  to  attend  to  the  Catholic  plautei.^,  and  instruct  and  con- 
vert tho  na'iive  Lidians.  IMie  desiiiu  was  apjjroved  of,  and 
Father  Andrew  ^^'hite  was  selected  and  ordered  to  jjrepare 
for  that  mission."  '  The  apostolic  lal>ors  of  Father  White 
are  matters  of  history.  He  is  said  to  have  taken  a  leadinir, 
though  unobtrusive,  part  in  framing  the  constitution  of  the 


Uro.  Foley,  S.J.,  Ileuords  of  the  Euf^lisli  JcsiiiU.    Vol.  V'll.,  j).  33,'). 


k 


90 


KCCLKSIASTICAL    lllSTOUV 


now  colonv  ;  and  the  l)ill  by  whii-li  i'oli<ri<>us  tVoodo.n  is 
<;rimt('(l  to  iill  persons  in  the  Stato  is  said  to  liavt!  been  drawn 
np,  or  at  least  inspired,  hy  him.  This  is  slated  on  tlui  niisns- 
pecled  authority  of  Mr.  Kenedy,  a  Presl>yterian  nienibor  of 
the  AsscMnhly  ol"  Maryland.  Father  White  was  assisted  hy 
Fathers  Althani.  Knowles,  and  Copley.  "  They  were  sum- 
moned to  sit  in  tiu!  tirst  Assembly  of  'frcenu'n'  in  the  P-os- 
inee ;  but,  earnestly  desirinj;  to  bo  oxensod  from  taking 
pari  in  tho  seeular  coneerns  of  the  eolony,  Iheii*  request 
was  granted."'  On  the  tirst  occasion  on  whicii  Ihcy  w-re 
sunnnoned  (January  2.').  \iu]7)  Ihey  arc  excused  on  ihe 
ground  of  sickness.  The  entry  in  the  "Archives  of  Maiy- 
land"  is  as  follows:  "W.  Thomas  Copley  Es.p  of  8'. 
^Maries  hundred  (Jenl.  M'.  Andrew  AVhile,  M'.  John  A\- 
tham  of  the  same  hundred.  Robert  C!lorke  gent  appeared 
for  them,  and  excused  their  AI>sence  by  reason  of  sickness." 
And  on  tiie  second  occasion  (January  2(!)  Kobcrt  (,'U'rk) 
"made  answere  for  them  that  they  dcsji-cd  to  i)C  excused 
from  giving  voices  in  this  Assembly,  and  was  admitled." 

It  may  not  l)e  without  intorc^st  to  (|U()te  here  some  |)ortion 
of  the  "Act  concerning  Kcligion,"  passed  in  tho  "(JenYd 
Session  held  at  S'.  Maries  on  the  Oiw  and  Twentieth  day 
of  .Vprill  Anno  Ofii.  lGI!l,"an(l  supposed  to  have  been  in- 
spired, if  not  composed,  by  Father  Andrew  White,  8. J.  :  — 


L. 


"  Fft)rasnuich  as  in  a  well  governed  Xpian  CoiTion  Wealth 
^Matters  Concerning  Keligion  and  tlu?  honor  of  God  ought 
in  the  tirst  place  to  be  taken  into  serious  consideracion 
Whatsoever  })"son  o  j)'sons  shall  .  .  .  blas- 
pheme God  .  .  .  that  is  curse  Him  or  Deny  Our  Sav- 
iour Jesus  Christ  to  bee  the  Sonne  of  (Jod  .  .  .  or  shall 
deny  the  Holy  Trinity  .  .  .  or  shall  utter  any  reproach- 
full  Speeches  concerning  .  .  .  Said  Trinity 
shall  be  i)unished  Avith  death  .  .  .  or  shall  utter  any 
reproachfidl    words    Concerning   the    Blessed  Virgin    ]\Iary 


IJio.  l"i)loy,  !>.  337. 


4 


I 


OF   NKVVFOIJNDLANI). 


91 


iho. 


the    Holy    Apostles    or    Kvaiiirclisls     . 
suiTk^  ()('  J/ire  pounds." 

"  Wliiitsocvci'  p'soii  .  .  .  sliall  .  .  .  call  or  dc- 
noiiiiiialc  any  i)"son  .  .  .  an  licrclick,  SciiisniaticU. 
Jdolator,  Puritan, Independent, Calvinist,  Anabaptist,  Brow  n- 
ist,  Antinoniian,  liarrowist,  Konndhead,  Sej)"atist,  or  any 
other  name  or  terine  in  a  reproaelilnll  manner  shall  foi'leit 
ten  shillin<2:s  sterlinu.'' 

"lie  it  theret'oiv  enacted  .  .  .  that  no  person  . 
prot'essinu'  to  l)elieve  in  Jesus  Christ  siiall  .  .  .  hee  any 
Avaies  troubled  molested,  or  discountenanced  tor  or  in  respect 
ot"  his  or  her  Keliijion,  nor  in  the  tree  exercise  thercot" 
nor  any  way  compcllcMl  to  the  heliet'e  oi-  exercise 
of  Any  other  K(di«^i()n  against   his  or  her  Consisnt." 

How  very  dillertMit  tVom  this  liberal  and  enliiihtened  ])iece 
of  Iciiislation  is  that  of  the  acts  passed  a  few  years  latci" 
(l()r)4)  l)y  the  same  Assembly,  undi'r  the  liiiidance  of  its 
Puritan  masters,  who,  owiiiii'  1<>  Ihe  clianue  of  affairs  in  Knu- 
land,  had  become  lords  of  the  new  colony  !  Knuland  had 
jione  thi'oiiii'h  the  throes  of  a  civil  war  (Kill)  ;  had  arrested 
and  executed  u  kinu'  (1  ()!!))  ;  the  monarchy  had  ijivcn  place 
to  a  rc})ul)lic.  "  Kuiilishmen  were  no  lonii'cr  lieucs  of  a 
Sovereiiiii,  but  nuMubers  of  a  Connnonwealth."  Mui-murs 
bciraii  to  arise  among  the  colonists  against  the  (piasi  mo- 
narchical power  of  Baltimore.  Visions  of  libci'ty  arose. 
"The  overthrow  of  the  monarchy  in  England"  (says  Uiin 
croft)  "seemed  about  to  confer  unrnnited  jjower  upon  the 
embittered  enemies  of  the  Hoinish  C'hurch."  ''The  dissolu- 
tion of  the  Long  I'arliament  threatened  a  change  in  the  po- 
litical condition  of  Maryland"  (p.  1!I7).  vVn  ordinance 
was  issued  l)y  the  Commonwealth  for  the  rediu-tion  of  the 
rebellious  colonies,  i.e.,  the  colonies  that  had  remained 
faithful  to  the  dethroiu'd  monarch,  Charh's  II.  ^Veting  on 
this  ordinance,  Clayborne,  governor  of  the  neighboring 
colony  of  Virginia,  who  had  always  been  the  jealous  enemy 
of  the  colony  of  Maryland,  took  possession  of  the  settle- 


92 


KCCMCoIASTICAL    IIISTOUV 


nuMit,  (loprlvcd  Stone,  Lord  liMlliiiiorc's  (Icjjiity,  of  Iiis  coin- 
niishion,  and  linnicdintcly  proceeded  ti)  the  ciinetineiil  of  ii 
Ijiw  jiroseriliiiiu'  the  Catholic  reiiiiion  (Oct.  20,  KI.Vl),  of 
which  the  followiiiir  i"^  sin  extract;  — 


Skction  4.  "  It  is  enacted  .  .  .  that  none  who  pro- 
fess and  exercise  the  Popish  Ucliiiion,  Connnonly  known  by 
the  Name  of  the  Roman  faliiolick  Ueliirion,  can  \n'  pi'otected 
in  this  Province,     .  .     i)ut  ariMo  luM'estraincd  from  ll.o 

exeri'isi-  thereof.      .      .      .      Snch   as   profess    faith   in   (tod 
shall   lie  protected      ...      in  tiie   profession  of 
the  faith.  Provided  this  liberty  /le  not  cftended  to  Vopcnj  of 
pvelacij" 

So  ureat  was  the  zeal  of  the  Jesuit  fathers,  and  (he  lunn- 
bor  of  their  conversions  so  lariie,  that  after  a  few  years  the 
an;ii»'r  of  the  I'nritans,  who  had  taken  possession  of  the 
nciiiliborinu"  colony  of  Yiruinia.  Wiis  aronsed,  and  several  com- 
plaints were  made  to  Lord  llaltimore  against  them  by  his 
secretary,  Mr.  Sewoar,  in  whoso  charuc  he  had  left  (ho 
infant  colon_\ .  This  gavo  occasion  to  Father  Ilemy  ]Moore, 
then  (UIIO)  \'ice-I*rovincial  of  the  Jesuits  in  Eni,d;nu!,  to 
write  a  Icnuthy  ajipeal  to  the  Cai'dinai  Pi'cfect  of  l*ro[)a- 
uanda,  from  which  we  obtain  another  testimony  to  the  re- 
liiiious  motives  of  Loril  P)altimor(\  "The  said  liaron  (Lord 
IJaltimore)  innnediately  (on  obtaininir  his  jiatent)  treated 
with  Father  Pichard  Ulount,  at  that  time  provincial,  at  the 
same  time  writinij  to  the  Father  (ieneral,  earnestly  beiriiinir 
that  he  would  elect  certain  fathers,  as  well  tor  contirmini:: 
the  Catholics  in  the  faith,  and  converting;  the  heretics  who 
were  destined  to  colonizi'  that  country,  as  also  for  prop- 
a_ira(inii'  (he  fai(h  aniouirst  the  intidels  and  savajres."'  liut 
the  reliirious  zeal  of  Lord  Paltimore  was  not  of  the  tiory, 
porsecntiniT  eharactor ;  it  was,  on  the  contrary,  of  tho  mildest 
and  i^cntlest  tone,  so  that  the;  constitution  of  his  new  colonv 


Ok 


Hid.  Foley,  loc.  cif.,  \).  HM-'k 


OK    NKWFOUXDLAM). 


98 


. 


had  for  its  fundaiiioiitiil  ijriiiciplc  tVccdoiii  of  rclifrioiis  holicf, 
roiiiiniiiidinir  only  as  u  ulttc  t/nd  noii  (he  Ix'lit'f  in  tho  (Jodlicad, 
of  the  Trinity,  and  tlio  divinity  of  .Icsns  Christ.  So  hri<;ht 
an  example,  and  so  exceptional  was  this  new  colony,  of 
moderation  and  lil)erly,  that  it  has  called  forth  unl)onnded 
encomiums,  especially  fi-om  Prolestanl  wiiters,  Uaiu-roft 
(Vol.  I.,  p.  1M7)  says,  "  Ht-liitions  liberty  ol>taine(|  ;i  home, 
its  only  home,  in  th(>  'lU'.  world,  at  the  huml>le  viliane 
Avhich  hore  the  name  of  St.  Mary's.  .  .  .  Kvei-y  other 
eonntry  in  the  world  had  porseentiiii:"  laws.  .  .  .  TIk^ 
Koman  Catholics,  who  wei-e  oi)pressed  l»y  the  laws  of  Knu- 
land,  were  snre  to  tind  a  ])eaceful  asylum  in  thi'  (juiet  harhors 
of  the  Chesai)eake,  and  there,  too,  Proteslants  were  sheltered 
against  Protestant  intoleranec.  .  .  .  Kver  intent  on  ad- 
vanciniT  tlu^  interests  of  his  colony  Lord  lialtiniore  inviti'<l 
the  Puritans  of  Alassaelmsetts  to  (Muiirrate  to  Maryland, 
otlerinji"  them  lands  and  privileges  and  free  Hhcrti/  of  rc- 
]i(/i<)ti"'  (p.  liM).  .  .  .  "The  dislVanchised  friends  of 
Prelacy  from  Mas.siclnisctts,  and  the  Puritans  from  Viriiinia, 
were  welcomed  to  eiiual  liliei'ly  of  conseienct'  and  political 
rights  in  the  Poman  Catliolie  province  of  ^laryland  "  (p.  11)1 ). 


This  kM\irthy  diuression  concernin<*'  the  tbnndation  of  the 
colony  of  Maryland  will  he  pard<)ne<l,  first,  as,  thonirh  not 
innnediately  eonnecle(|  with  the  history  of  Newfoundland, 
it  throws  great  light  on  the  character  and  designs  of  the  man 
who  inad(^  so  strenuous  and  exj)ensive  an  elfort  to  colonize 
Newfoundland,  and  whose  name,  notwithstanding  the  failure 
of  his  attempt,  <h'ser\es  undying  gratitude  IVom  every  son 
of  our  Island  home.  Second,  Itecause  the  documents  con- 
cerniuii"  the  foimdation  in  Newfoundland  are  hut  meaare  and 
scarce,  and  the  more  ample  archives  of  Maryland  help  to 
fill  up  the  blanks,  and  to  show  us  what  Lord  Baltimore 
would  have  done  for  Newfoundland  had  his  first  settlement 
been  a  success. 


I 


94 


ECCLESIASTICAL   HISTORY 


TTI AFTER    VII. 

FOUXDATIOX   OF  FERUYLAXI).— [lf.22-l()28.] 

Foundation  of  Ferry laiiil  Colony  —  I^onl  Baltimore's  ruteut  — Its  Extent  —  IvUvarJ 
Wynne,  First  (iovcrnor — Meaninv''  ol"  the  Xainc  Fcrrylanil  —  Deseriptiou  of 
Scllleinenl  I'luni  (iiplain  I'DWell  —  Sir  Arthur  Asliton  Arrives,  May,  MVJtl  —  Lord 
r.iiltiniore  Arrives  in  Ferrylaml,  July  '2'1,  1(127  —  liriu^^s  out  Jesuit  Priests  — 
t'alholie  Keli^'ion  lNlalili>heil —  Ma^s  Celelirated  Daily —  Imlitrnalion  of  the 
AniJrliean  Minister,  I'ev.  Mi'.  Slourton  —  His  lApulsion  from  the  Colony  —  Calvert 
Arrives,  [second  Tinn',  with  his  li-M\y  and  Family,  1()2S. 


I\  tlu'  inaimsi'iipl  liistoiy  of  Dr.  Mullock  ■  spirited  out- 
line is  (Iniwu  ol'  the  foundiitiou  of  liord  r>altiiuore"s 
colony;  hut  since  that  was  written  (1S(U))  more  than  a 
quarter  of  a  century  has  passed,  and  intiu}'  documents  iiavo 
l»een  brouiiflit  to  lii>h1,  not  oidy  tuiioni^  the  colonial  archives, 
)»iil  also  ainonu'  family  papers  and  domestic  clii'oniclcs,  which 
enaltle  us  to  till  in  the  accessories  of  the  i)icture  in  all  its 
detiiils. 

AVhitbourne's  "  Discourse  and  Discovery,"  etc.,  in  which 
he  wrote  so  liiowingly  of  the  soil,  climate,  and  ])roducts  of 
the  Island;  of  the  i^cntleness  of  the  ntitives  ;  even  of  the 
meeUness  of  the  wolves  :  of  the  irretd  advantau'es  of  a  settle- 
ment, etc..  was  printed  by  order  of  King  rJames,  and  dis- 
tril)Utc(l  laru'cly  throughout  the  kinixdom,  and  awakened  a 
\cry  lively  interest  in  the  Island.  On  the  title-page  of  tlu; 
hook  we  read,  "  Jmi)rinle(l  l»y  Authority  at  London  by  F  lix 
Kingston,  1(!22.  A  Discourse  and  Discovery  of  \(\\  found- 
land  with  many  reasons  to  prove  how  worthy  and  I)eneticiidl 
a  JManttilion  may  there  be  made  after  a  tar  better  maimer 
than  now  is."' 

After  the  dedicjition  comes  an  achlress, — "To  His  Maj- 
esties good  subjects."  He  contimies  :  "The  island  of  New- 
found Land  is  Ijirge,  tempertite  and  fruitful.  .  .  .  The 
Niitives  are  ingenious    and   apt    by  discreet    and    moderate 


* 


OF   NEWFOUNDLAND. 


95 


Sfovcnitnonts  to  bo  brouglit  to  obodicnt'o."  IIo  points  out 
the  "Ovorpopiiloiisiicssc^  of  Eiigliuur' ;  tho  advaiu'c  of  the 
"Lowe  Countries"  by  their  colonies;  the  <j:lory  of  eularg- 
inir  (loniinion  ;  "  and  that  whieii  will  ciowiu^  tli<^  \vorUe  will 
be  the  advaneenient  of  the  Honour  of  God  in  briniiin<;  i)oor 
Infidels  to  His  worship  and  their  own  salvation."  After 
seventy-two  pauivs  full  of  inforniation  and  eneouragenient 
follows  '.;  '  Seeond  motive  and  Inducement,  as  a  louing  inui- 
tation  .  .  .  showing  the  i)articular  charge  for  Victualling 
forth  a  .Ship  of  100  tons  l)urthen  with  40  men.  for  the 
advancing  of  His  ^rajeslie's  ^lost  hopcfuU  JMantation  in 
Xewfoimd  Land."  Then  follows  "  A  conclusion,"  showing 
forth  some  things  omitted.  It  may  Ix;  imagined  that  such 
an  enthusiastic  and  glowing  account  excited  gi'eat  interest 
among  all  classes  in  England,  and  Sir  ( ieorge  Calvert,  who 
had  already  cout-eived  the  idea  of  founding  a  colony,  was 
induced  by  it  to  choose  Xcwfoundland  as  the  site  of  his 
settlement.  Accordingly  he  a[)plied  to  tlic  king  for  a 
})ateMt,  wliich  he  obtaineil  ou  tlH>  last  day  of  the  year 
1(>22,  the  very  same  on  which  \\'iiitbourne"s  "Discourse" 
was  published.  In  March,  llJ^."),  (he  grant  was  conlirmed 
under  the  king's  sign-mamial,   with  additional  privileges. 

It  is  generally  stated  by  historians  that  the  |)ateut  of 
Lord  lialtimore  included  only  that  portion  of  Xcwfoundland 
known  as  the  Eastern  Peninsula,  or  the  Peninsula  of  Avalon, 
and  not  merely,  as  Dr.  Mullock  states,  "all  that  portion  of 
th(^  coast  extending  from  Way  IJulls  to  Cape  St.  Mary's." 
IJancroft  {Vn\.  I.,  \).  1<S1)  s[)(>aks  of  it  erroneously  as  "  the 
southern  jjromontoiT  of  Xewfoundland."  Kirke  ("Con- 
(pu'st  of  Canada,"  p.  Itt).  says,  "He  obtained  a  grant  of 
Newfoundland,  or  rather  of  the  south  or  small(>r  part  ol'  the 
Island";  and  in  a  net,  he  says,  ''  Lord  Ilaltimore's  province, 
which  forms  the  south-east  \):\vi  of  Xewfoundland,  is  a  [)en- 
insula  of  twenty-six  marine  leagues  in  length,  and  from  'ive 
to  twenty  in  breadth.  It  is  separated  from  the  main  island 
by  two  extensive  bays,  the  heads  of  which  are  divided  by  a 
narrow  Isthnnis  or  beach  not  exceeding"  four  miles  in  width.'' 


i    -1 


90 


ECCLESIASTICAL  HISTORY 


i    ' 


h 


This  applies  to  the  whole  pcninsulii  of  *Av!iloii,  aiid  is 
tlie  coiiuuon  opinion  of  nearly  all  historians,  liiehardson, 
however,  eonteiuls  stroni:!}'  that  (Jalvcnl  obtained  the  whole 
island,  havinj;  l)on,i>;ht  the  riiiiits  of  tiie  former  irrantees, 
that  is,  the  Newfoundland  Company,  founded  hy  John  (Jny, 
and  f/i(\>/  undoubtedly  possessed  all  the  island,  as  we  have 
already  seen.  In  sni)port  of  this  view,  lliehardson  ((uotes  si 
])ortion  of  the  words  of  the  patent,  as  follows:  "All  that  en- 
tire })orti()n  of  land  situate  within  our  country  of  Newfound- 
land, and  all  the  islands  within  ten  leagues  of  the  eastern 
shore  thereof.*'  l>ut  these  words  do  not  s(!em  eonelusive  on 
tlu'  point.  They  are  evidently  iueomplete.  and  may  Ix;  in- 
terpreted as  i\  part  of  the  Island,  if  they  do  :;(;1  aetually  imply 
sueh  a  nieaninij.  The  words  (|iu)ted  are  taken  from  ( Jains- 
bury  "s  "Calendar  of  State  Papers,  Colonial  '•series,"  p.  42. 
In  the  same  document  we  tind  :  "  1(522  Dec'  31  (Jrant  to  Sir 
(ieoriie  Calvert  and  his  heirs  of  the  whole  country  of  New- 
found Land,"  Ajzain,  when,  some  years  after,  Sir  David 
KirUe  received  a  i)ateiit  for  the  colony  al)audoned  by  Cal- 
vert, it  is  distinctly  declared  to  cover  "all  that  whole  Ishiiid, 
C!ontinent  or  Iveiiion  know  nc  l)v  the  Name  of  Ncwtbund 
Land." 

^^'hatever  may  have  been  the  extent  of  the  territory  eon- 
ceded  to  Calvert,  —  and  it  nuist  bi^  confessed  the  s()vercii::ns 
of  those  days  wen^  extremely  (icitcvoits,  and  ratiu'i'  va:ij;'ue  in 
their  notions  of  New-A\'orld  iicoiiraphy,  —  it  is  certain  that 
jurisdiction  of  the  hiufhest  form  was  conferrccl  on  (Calvert. 
His  patent  was  couched  in  tli(>  same  terms  as  those  granted 
to  Sir  William  AI(>xan(ler  in  Nova  Scotia,  to  Sir  Ferdiuando 
(Jorji'es  in  New  I'Jiiiland,  and  his  son,  Cecil,  afterwards  for 
Maryland,  lie  was  niad('  Lord  r.ilatiiie,  with  power  to  coin 
money,  to  lii'ant  titles,  to  appoint  clcri>ymen,  as  widl  as  civil 
and  military  ollicers.  In  fact,  he  was  invested  wilii  ai>^olute 
civil  and  ecclesiastical  authority.  The  scheme  of  coloniza- 
tion was  modelle(l  on  that  of  the  mediu'val  palatinate,  ot" 
which,  at  that  time,  the  only  one  reir.:'<niiiu-  iu  Kni>land  was 
th(!  county  of  Durham.      The  liisliop  was  Lord  Palatine,  and 


OK   NKWFOUNDLANl). 


1>7 


T 


conihiiu'd  civil  :iii(l  rcliiiious  jurisdiction.  IIcmico,  on  the 
coin  of  Lord  IJiiltiniorc,  as  before  inoiilioncd,  is  socni  llic 
niitrc  and  ci-osicr,  in  token  of  spiritual  (Ujininion.  (Uich- 
ardson,  loc.  cif. ) 

Sir  (leorjijfe  Calvert  sent  out,  as  lii'st  uovernor  and  uoneral 
atrcnt  of  his  new  colony,  one  Capt.  Kdward  Wyinie,  with  a 
small  l)()(ly  of  men.  There  is  a  discrepancy  he! ween  the 
dates  liiven  I)V  historians  and  the  letters  of  Governor  \\'ynnc 
pul)lished  at  the  end  of  \\'hitl)ourne's  "  Discoui'se."  Kirke 
states  that  Calvert  obtained  his  patent  "on  the  ;>  1st  day  of 
December,  1(!22/"  l{i(har(iS(;n  (quotini;-  from  the  Colonial 
Papers,  pp.  li"),  2(1)  uives  the  followinir  account  :  "  In 
March,  ICii'l,  his  (Calvert's)  attt'iition  had  l)een  otiicially 
called  to  the  })lantation  in  Xewfoundiand  by  a  petition  from 
the  Company  of  Adventurers"'  (namely.  .lohn  (iny's  Com- 
l)any  in  Cupids).  W'v  ha\('  ali'cady  setMi  the  <:i  ievances 
com])laine(l  of  by  the  settlers  at  various  times  between  the 
years  KJIO  and  1()2(),  the  colonists  askiuiz'  for  naval  [)ro- 
tection  ai:ainsl  the  encroachments  ,)f  the  lishei'nu-n,  the 
attacks  of  the  Indians  by  land  and  the  pirates  by  sea.  They 
re(|Uested  that  dohn  Mason,  li'overnor  of  the  colony,  should 
be  appointed  kinu''^  lieutenant  with  two  ships  to  correct 
these  irregularities.  The  petition  was  referred  to  Set-retary 
Calvert.    ' 

It  w:is  not  until  the  last  day  ol"  the  year  1(>22  that  Calvert 
ac(|uired  possession  of  his  territory,  ;ind  his  pntcnt  is  dated 
March,  1()2.")  (.\pril  7,  accord  inii'  to  (Jainsbury's  "  Calend;ir  of 
State  Papers.")  Calvert,  however,  must  ha\-e  sent  over  tiie 
iii'sl  instalment  of  colonists  previous  to  this  time;  for  the 
iirst  letter  to  l^ord  Uallimore  iVom  (JoNci'uot  \\'ynne  is 
dated  "  Ferryliuid,  July,  l(i22,""  and  is  entitled  "A  letter 
from  (Japtaine  Kdward  ^^'vnne  (Joxcruor  of  the  Colony  at 
Ferryland  within  the  ])rouince  ol'  Aualon  in  Newfound  Land 
unto  the  Iviuht  IIon()ral)l(>  Sir  (leoriit^  ('alv(>rt  Kniiiht,  His 
]\Iaji'stic"s  Trincipall  Secretary:  duly  1(!22."  A\'iih  rei>ard 
to  the  oriuin  of  the  name  of  the  colony  so  beaut  I :.dy  con- 
ceived by   Dr.   Mullock,  the    above-quoted    letter  forces   us 


If 


08 


ECCLESIASTICAL   IHSTOHY 


iH'liu'tantly  to  reject  his  opinion  tluit  the  iiMiiie  is  u  cor- 
ni[)tioii  of  Verul.'ini.  Dr.  ^Iiilloek  writes  as  foHows  in  his 
nianuseript  history  :  "  A  zealous  Catholic  and  enliirhtcnod 
[)hiIanthropist  lie  ((Calvert)  detennined  that  his  territory 
should  l»e  blessed  with  the  faith  of  Christ,  and  the  names  ho 
in»i)()sed  on  the  Province  he  a  -(luired  and  the  t()\vn  which  he 
founded,  are  a  |)roof  of  his  Catholic  feelinus,  Ai  (Jlaston- 
bnry,  in  Somersetshire,  was  an  ancient  and  veneral)le  ahhey 
dedicati'd  to  St.  Joseph  of  Arimathea,  who  looic  down  from 
the  Cross  and  interred  in  his  owri  tomh  tiie  l)ody  of  Our 
Saviour.  Tiie  ancient  n:ime  of  this  al)l)ey  was  Avalon.  It 
was  a  tradition  ecjually  clierished  l)y  IJritons,  Saxons,  and 
Xormans  tiial  St.  fIose))h  was  banished  from  Judea,  after 
the  death  of  Christ  ;  that  he  went  to  Uritain,  and  tinally 
set  (1  in  Avalon  ;  introduced  tlie  liospel,  and  then'  founded 
the  tirst  Clirislian  estalilishment  in  the  Island.  TliouLili  this 
pious  tra<lition  rests  on  no  historical  foundation,  still  tlus 
abbey,  which  t-overed  sixty  acres  of  land,  and  whose  mairnifi- 
cent  ruins  still  I'cmain  .  .  .  tlourished  amidst  the  vener- 
ation of  the  i)eople  till  suppressed  by  Henry  \'III.,  who  jnit 
the  last  al)bot  to  deatli  for  refusiii"-  to  surrender  his  sacred 
trust  to  the  hatijful  tyrant.  Cahcrt  then  wished  to  revive 
tlu^  nauK'  of  Avalon,  the  cradle  of  Christianity  in  IJritain, 
on  this  side  of  the  Atlantic.  And  now'  the  whole  Eastei'u 
Peninsula  of  Xewfoundlaiid  l»c:irs  the  sacred  name,  and  is 
called  Mie  Province  of  Avalon.  On  a  l)eautiful  i)romontory 
on  the  Southern  Shore  he  erected  his  own  resi<lenci',  and 
with  true  Catholic  and  IW'i'i.-h  feelinu'he  called  the  settlement 
Vkki'I.am,  the  Koman  name  of  the  present  town  of  St. 
Alban's.  This  saint  was  the  prolomartyr  of  liritain.  When 
tlio  land  became  Christian,  a  maiziiilicent  abbey  was  erected 
there,  one  of  whose  abbots,  l)rea[<s|)ear,  became  Pope,  under 
tlu!  title  of  Adrian  I\'.,  and  the  town  itself  lost  its  Ivoman 
app(dlation,  and  was  called  after  its  patron.  Calvert,  there- 
foi'e,  called  his  province  Avalon,  in  honor  of  St.  Josej))!  of 
Arimathea,  and  his  town  \'i:itiir-AM,  in  honor  of  St.  All)an. 
'IMie  name  was  at   first  corrupted   into   FcndiDit,  and  tinally 


1 


OF   NEWFOUNDLAND. 


99 


seltleil  down  into  llic  vulpir  !ii.<l  trivial  iianie  of  FeiTyliiiKl." 
Thus  Doctor  Mullock  ;  hut  wo  cannot  acccj)!  tlio  very  boaiiti- 
t'lil  theory,  at  least  so  far  as  the  name  of  Fi-rryland  is  con- 
cerned :  for,  in  all  the  letters  written  l)y  llu>  iiovcrnor  of  the 
place  at  the  tirst  founding  of  the  colony,  those  of  Captain 
Powell,  of  a  ,ir(Mitlenian  siiininir  himself  "  \.  II.,"  and  also  of 
Lord  Haltimoic  himself,  addressed  from  the  colony  to  Kini; 
Charles,  of  date  Auii'.  !!»,  l(!2i),  the  name  is  distinctly 
spelt  Fi:i!i!VLAM),  and  there  is  no  vestige  of  a  corruption 
from  Vcnihon.  No  doui)t  this  idea  was  sni:i;ested  to  Dr. 
Mullock  from  the  fact  that  Sii'  Francis  IJacon,  J^ord  \vv- 
ulain,  was  a  meml)er  of  the  tirst  Newfoundland  Company 
estahlished  at  Cupids:  ]»ut  he  had  no  conneciion  with  Lord 
lialtimore's  colony.  Moreover,  the  ancient  name  of  Verulam 
was  not  known  in  Kni^land  in  the  lime  of  Calvert,  it  havin*; 
been  superseded  In'  that  of  St.  Alhan's,  which  would  more 
prolial)ly  ha\e1)een  the  \\\m\v  chosen  by  Calvert  t"or  his  new 
town  had  he  thouiiht  of  it. 

The  ])lace  was  called  Fcrryland  lielbre  Calvert  settled 
there.  C'aptain  Jiichard  "\^'hitl>ourne,  writin;^^  in  l<)li>,  i)re- 
vious  to  Calvert's  establishment,  calls  it  Fovilatid.  On  a 
ma})  published  in  Tavei'uer's  "  liriti.>-h  Pilot."  1747,  it  is  spelt 
Forilaud  and  Foreland,  'i'his  writer  j)robably  thought  it 
might  have  been  named  after  the  points  so  well  known  in  the 
Ih'itisli  Channel  as  (he  NOrth  and  South  Forelands.  WwX  it  is 
(•f^;'/(^f ////// a  cori'upl ion  of  the  French  word  .Fon'lloii.  This 
old  French  word  signifies  NijHO'alcd  or  sftnidiiif/  otif  J'rom, 
as  it  wei'c  a  ])iece  of  rock  bored  or  dug  out  tVoni  the  rest  of 
the  land  by  the  action  of  the  waves  ;  tVom  the  Latin /o/v/rr,  to 
dig  or  bore  ;  French,  /orr/-.  In  a  note  in  Chami)laiirs  "  \o\- 
ages,"  l()0;i,  p.  4,  we  read  :  "Gasjx'  on  Gac//pr  siu'raiif  J/. 
Ij'Ahlx''  J.  A.  jMoiinndf  cc  iioia  senn'f  loic  roitfravtion  dn 
mot  Aboiof/ut's  Kalcspi  f/iii  est  '  K^eparrmcnr  f/iti  est  sepurt- 
de  Vautre  tcvrc  on  sait  en  efj'et  que  le  FoviUon  aujonr((hui 
tnlne  2)ar  la  violenv.e  des  vai/ue.s  ('/ait  nne  rocher  remarf/indjle 
separr  da  cup  de  Gn.yx','"  (taspe  or  Gachpi,  according  to 
Father  J.  A.  Mourault,  is  a  contraction  of  the  Abenaijuis 


! 


100 


ECCLKSIASTICAL   IIISTOIJY 


It    I 


(Iiuliiin  tril)e)  word  KaieHpi,  wliic-h  means  separately/, 
or  tliiit  wliic'li  is  scparatod  i'roin  the  mainlaiul ;  and,  in 
(act,  it  is  well  known  that  the  ForiUon,  to-day  dug  out  by 
the  violent'o  of  the  waves,  is  a  reniarkahhi  roek  separated 
from  llie  Cape  of  Gaspc'.  This  roek,  which  was  known  as 
"The  OKI  Man  antl  Woman,"'  has  been  so  undermined  by  the 
action  of  the  water  that  it  crumbh'd  away  and  disappeared 
some  few  years  ago.  Now,  liiere  can  be  no  (h)ubt  tliat 
Ferryhuul   is   an   Eiiglisli  corrui)tion   of  this   French    word 


Till',   HAZrijKs.    oi!    ii.vhk's   i;ai!s,    at   i'i:i!I!Yi.a\I).    rAi.i.Ki)    itv   tiik 

I'I!I'.NC11     "I'Olin.I.ON." 


ForiUon.  The  well-known  rock  at  Ferryland  head,  called 
ihe  Ha zi ires  (itself  a  corruption  ol"  hare's  ears),  corresponds 
exactly  with  the  d(>scription  givi'ii  above  of  CJas[)c.  This 
name  Avas  of  geneial  use  by  the  French  to  designate  such 
rocks.  There  is  one  of  the  same  sort  near  St.  Lawrence, 
Piacentia  Hay,  called  l)y  tlu;  same  name,  and  by  the 
tishermen  of  Newfoundland  i(  is  corrupted  to  Fevri/land. 
The  settlement  continued  (o  be  called  ForiUon  hy  the 
French  up  to  the  date  of  1  (!!!(!,  when  it  was  cai)tured  by  the 
Sieur  D'Iberville.  An  account  of  the  capture  (IVom  which 
we  shall  afterwards  (|uote)    was    written   by  th(>   cha|)laiii  of 


iss. 


■jm^^^SSSSBLW-S 


OF    NE\VFOUNM)LA\D. 


101 


flic   army,  M.   rAldx'    Haudouiii,   in   wliicli    'ic  sjK'iiks  of  it 
all  tIirou<j:h  as  ForiUon. 

Ill  the  li'tl(n'  al)()ve  alliuli'd  to  as  written  from  Forryland 
by  (lovenioi'  ^^yllm^  in  .luiy,  1022,  h(>  speaks  of  a  former 
letter  written  l)y  him  tlie  previous  year,  "the  last  letter  of 
the  previous  yeai'  dated  Septeml>er  o,  1()21,''  which 
imi)lies  that  he  must  have  writt(;u  other  letters  duriiii;"  that 
year  ofl()21.  It  is,  therefore,  certain  that  the  colony  was 
founded  ahout  that  time.  It  was  cei'tainly  then  in  Its  infancy. 
He  acknowlediies  the  receipt,  on  the  17th  of  May,  1022,  of 
a  letter  wiitten  l)V  Calvert  on  the  lIHh  of  iMjhruary,  hrouirht 
by  one  Kol)ert  Stoning.  There  were  (udy  twelve  men  all 
that  winter  in  the  colony,  until  tlu"  spring.  On  May  2(1, 
1<)22,  Captain  Daniel  Powell  arriv(Ml  with  an  additional 
rei'iiforccmeiit  of  twenty  men,  milking  in  all  thirty-two. 
Powell  brought  letters  from  Calvert,  dated  March  14. 
I'owell,  however,  did  not  take  shijjping  from  Plymouth  till 
iJ^th  of   Aprill,"    making  a    voyage   of  less  than  tive 


the 
Avee 


which    was    very    fair    tor   th"    season    of  tli 


yeai 


Governor  Wvnnc  uives  a  minute  description  of  the  buddinirs 
erectt'd  and  in  course  of  construction.  The  first  rangi'  of 
buildings  erected  about  AU-hallowtide  was  "  forty-four  foot 
of  leniith  andtifteen  foot  of  breadth,"' containing  a  hall,  entry, 


cellar,  four  chamlu-rs,  kitch 


en,  staircase,  passages,  etc 


lb 


"  raised  uj)  a  face  of  defence  to  the  wafer  side-ward,  '  sowed 
some  wheat  for  a  triad  '  and  many  other  businesses  besides." 
After  Christmas  he  built  "  a  jjarlour  fourtenc  foote  and 
twelve  foote  broad,  and  a  lodging  chamber,  a  forge,  salt 
works,  a  well  sixteene  foote  deep,  a  brew  house,  a  wharfe, 
and  a  rfifn-ation  so  that  tlu^  whole  may  l»e  made  a  prettie 
street.       He  speaks  in   most  fMV(M'abU>  terms  of  the  soil  and 


limate 


second 


left 


CI'   from    ( Jovernor  \\'\'mie  to  Lord 


Baltimore  is  dated  the  17tli  of  Auijfust  1(122.  llcne  a«rain 
he  speaks  enthusiastically  of  the  climate  and  i)roducts  of  the 
soil,  "  wheat,  barley,  oates,  beanes,  i)eas(!,  radishes,  eale 
cabbidge,    lettice,   turneps,   carrets,   '  and  all  tlu;  rest  of  like 


rood 


nesse 


He  sends  home  "a  barrell  of  the  best  salt  that 


102 


KCCLKSIASTirAL    IIISTOKY 


ever  my  eyes  behold."'  Also  a  list  of  nrtiolos  riviiiired,  and, 
at  the  end,  jjivcs  tlic  iiann\s  of  the  tliirty-two  men  and  boys 
stayinj;  Avilli  him. 

There  is  a  letter  from  Captain  Powell  to  "Master  Seerotary 
Calvert,'"  dated  .^uly  L^S.  1()22.  He  doserihes  the  voy.'.ire 
from  Plymouth,  with  several  ineidents,  such  as  the  death  of 
"  hree  ewe  goals,  by  reason  of  their  extreme  leannesse." 
Thev  have  now  "  but  onlv  one  ewe  uoat  and  a  buck  i^oat 
left  ; '"  on  th(!  IGth  of  May  the  "  fiirnaee  took  fire."  They 
arrived  in  Capeliiiii'  Vy.iy  on  the  2()th  of  May.  They  found 
the  <;overnor  and  all  his  eompany  in  uood  health,  "  iis  \\{\  all 
continue  in  the  same,  j)ruised  be  (Jod  for  it.'"  He  then 
describes  the  situation  of  the  colony,  which  was  on  the 
mariiin  of  what  is  known  as  "The  Pool."  "The  house  is 
strong  and  well  contrived,  standeth  very  warme  at  the  foot 
of  an  easie  asc(<ndini:  Hill  on  the  South  East  and  defended 
Avith  a  Hill  standinii-  on  the  further  side  of  the  Hauen  on  the 
north  west.  The  beach  on  the  North  and  South  side  of  tlu; 
land  locke  it  and  the  seas  on  I)oth  ^ides  are  so  neare  and 
indillerent  to  it  that  one  may  shoote  a  IJird  Ix  e  into  either 
sea.  .  .  .  The  land  behind  it  l)einii-  •it'iU'  onc^  thousand 
acres  of  good  ground  for  hay,  ieiMling  ol"  calteil,  and  plenty 
of  wood  almost  an  island,  safe  to  keepe  anything  from  laven- 
ous  beasts."  He  then  describes  Atpiafort ,  about  six  miles  to 
the  soutlnviU'd,  and  asks  leave  to  take  thii'teen  men  there  to 
form  a  settlement.  Calvert  sent  £2..")()0  sterling  with 
"Wynne,  as  an  earn(>st  of  what  he  intended  to  do  for  the 
colony.  xVccording  to  a  niemorial  afterward  presented  to 
Charles  H.,  in  1().')7,  l)y  the  youngi-r  Lord  Haltimore,  touch- 
ing his  father's  claim  on  Xcwfonndland,  Ijord  Cecil  says 
that  his  father  spent  £20,000  on  the  fort,  mansion,  and  pub- 
lic works.  In  a  petition  to  Charles  H.,  innnediately  after 
the  Restoration,  KitiO,  he  states  the  exi)onditure  to  have 
been  £oO,000.  The  accounts  furnished  by  Governor 
AVynne  and  Captain  Powell  were  no  doubt  highly  colored 
and  exaggerated,  so  that  Lord  lialtimore  was  induced,  after 
a  few  years,  to  come  out  liimself  to  see  his  new  colony. 


OF   NKWFOUNDLAND. 


103 


I  II 


lie  Ii:i(l  spent  vciT  Iaru<^  stuns  of  money  on  l"'s  onter|)rise  ; 
and,  tlioiiii'li  lie  constantly  I'ecencd  the  most  i:lo\vinii;  accoimts 
iVom  Ills  airent,  yet  it  appears  that  he  liei;an  to  oiUertain 
(louhtstliatall  was  not  iroinjr  as  well  as  was  repiHvsented.  And 
he  feared  that,  unless  he  should  go  in  person  to  visit  this 
colony,  it  miiiht  Ix-come  a  total  failure.  Thus  Ik^  wi'iles  from 
liOiidon,  on  the  21sl  May,  1()27,  to  Sir 'i'homas  ^^'ent  worth, 
afterwards  Kju'l  of  Strafford:  "I  am  heartily  sorry  that  T 
am  further  from  my  hopes  of  seein;;  you  hefore  leavinir  this 
town  .  .  .  for  a  lon*,^  journey.  ...  It  is  Newfoundland  1 
mean,  which  it  impoits  me  more  than  curi()>ity  only  to  see. 
For  I  nmst  either  tio  and  settle  it  in  better  order  or  else  i>iv(> 
it  over  and  lose  all  the  eharu'c's  f  have  been  at  hitherto  for 
other  men  to  build  their  fortunes  upon."  Ilowt-ver.  that  was 
not  the  only  reason,  for  he  speaks  of  Newfoundland  as '' a 
l)lace  which  I  have  lonn'  had  a  desire  to  visit  Mud  have  now 
the  opportunity  .and  leave  to  do  it."  It  will  thus  be  f^wu, 
then,  that  it  was  not,  as  befon;  observed,  on  account  of  his 
conversion  that  he  turne(l  his  thoiiiihts  to  colonization,  yet  it 
nmst  be  admitted  that  his  reliiiious  comiclions,  coupled  with 
the  peculiar  t  inn  of  Imperial  politics  at  the  time,  if  they  were 
not  thci  cause,  uuve  him  at  least  the  opj)ortunity  of  ^zivinu: 
his  n.iind  more  entirely  to  the  jjroject.  lie  had,  as  before 
stat(Hl,  s.roni::ly  urued  the  marriai^c  of  I'rince  Charles  with 
the  Infanta  of  S|)ain,  hopiiii^  tlu'relu'  to  oI)tain  a  si;spension 
of  the  penal  laws  auainst  the  ('atholics.  The  failure  of  that 
pi'ojeet  Wiis  as  <ireat  a  disap})ointment  to  him  as  it  was  a 
triumph  to  the  Hukc  of  BucUinii'ham.  his  opponent.  The 
latter,  suspecting'  or  knowinu:  Calvert's  Catholicity,  uiti'c'd 
stronjily  the  enforcement  of  the  i)enal  laws  with  the  utmost 
viiror,  as  also  the  tenderini:'  of  the  oath  of  alleiiiance  to  all 
suspected  [)ersons,  particularly  the  memlters  of  the  I'rivy 
Council,  of  whom  Calvert  was  one.  Calvert  resiiiined  his 
otRce,  but  h(^  did  not  lose  llu'  king's  favor,  and  a  few  days 
bcfon^  the  death  of  the  latter  he  was  appointed  I>aron  of 
Baltimore,  in  the  Irish  i)eerage,  in  1(525.  From  that  time  he 
seems   to  have  laid   aside  all   connection  with   the   alfairs  of 


; 


i  ii  I 

!    'I 
I 


:  ; 


I  h\ 


I    ' 


,|  :  ,     ,, 


I'"  .1  ■ : 


I  '1' 


104 


KCCLKSIASTICAL    HISTORY 


stalo.  and  ^^ivcii  himself  u|)  more  exclusively  lo  the  siihject 
ot"  reliirioii  and  ol"  his  new  colony.  In  this  sanu'  year, 
\Cr2'>,  he  made  a  journey  lo  the  north  of  Knuland  with  tho 
l{ev.  Sir  Tobias  Mattliew,  S.J.  Sir  Tol)y  Matthew  was  a 
noted  convert,  who  died  Octolter  1."),  lli,'*'),  at  (Jhent,  in  the 
Kn_u!i.>h  House  of  Tertians  of  tho  Jesuit  Order.  Ho  was  son 
of  Dr.  Tohy  Matthews,  l*r()tostant  Bishop  of  Durham.  He 
was  a  friend  of  Calvert,  and  it  is  prohahle  that  at  tliat  time 
arrangements  wore  made  for  the  sendinu'  out  of  Jesuit  mis- 
sionaries to  Xewfoundland.  Sir  Tol»y  took  a  ureat  interest 
in  the  ])roject,  and  it  was  proliahly  he  wh()s(deele(l  the  Fathers 
Smitli,  LonuN  iile,  and  Haeket,  whom  Lord  llaltimoi'!-  hi'ouuht 
out  with  liim  a  couple  of  years  suhsociuontly.  It  "would 
ai)i)ear  that  aftt'r  this  date  haul  lialtimore  retired  to  his  Irish 
estate  in  the  county  of  Loniiiord,  where,  remote  from  th(! 
cares  of  state,  he  seriously  set  about  makinii-  jjreparations 
for  his  louii-wished-t'or  visit   to  his  risinu'  colonv  of  Avalon. 

In  tho  montii  of  April,  Kii^T,  h(>  sent  out  two  ships,  vi/., 
the  "Ark  of  Avalon,"  of  1(10  tons,  and  the  "(Joori>(>,'"  of  Plym- 
outh, 110  tons.  'I'iiese  .ships  were  sent  out  under  cliar<>'e  of 
Sir  Arthur  Ashton,  who  afterwsu'ds  was  governor  of  Avalon. 
"Early  in  the  sununer  Lord  Baltimore  himself  followed,  and 
arrivecl  at  Ferryland  about  the  i.'Jd  July,  1()27.  He  brouiiht 
with  him  two  seniinary  priests,  Fathei's  Anthony  Smith  and 
liongvdle."  (Richardson,  from  the  "Colonial  Papers,"  pj). 
8  (5-1)  2.1) 

Although  the  colony  established  by  John  Guy,  of  Cupor's. 
liad   been   abandoned    some    ten    or  twelve    years    i)rcvious 


'  ^fr.  Riclianlsoii  I'liiiii-^lu";  iiic  with  llii' followiiii,'  ilciiis  us  licinj;  nil  tliiit  In;  coiilil 
{lleim  coiiccniin^'  these  pi-iests.  That  tliev  were  pvolnihly  selecleil  lor  the  missidn  "  \\\; 
Sii'  'J'ohiiis  ^hilthew,  S.J. ;  that  Smith  feliiriieil  to  lOnnlaiiil  with  Lonl  J'.altiiiiore  in  the 
fall  of  l(i-7,  and  that  Haeket  appears  to  have  ecmie  out  the  next  year  to  take'  Siiiilli's 
plaec."  lu  Brother  l'(jle_v's  (S..I.)  exhaustive  work]  tiiiil  no  luentioii  of  these  fathers; 
mil),  having;  written  to  him  on  the  siihjeet,  he  rc])lies  (.'30th  Oct.,  18S4),  "  I  ean  traec  no 
Eii;:lish  Jesuits  of  tho  names  of  A.  .Smith,  Haekett,  and  l^oiifiville."  Coiisiderin^r  the 
immense  extent  and  deplli  of  IJrother  Foley's  researches,  it  seems  tinae<'()iintalile  that 
he  did  not  <'nnu'  0)1011  these  fathers.  At  the  same  time  it  must  he  reniemhered  that, 
owin^'  to  the  ))er.seeiitinjr  sjiirit  of  the  times,  the  .lesiiits  were  ohlii^ed  to  adopt  various 
disjruises,  aiul  l'rc(piently  to  ehan^o  their  names.  Hence  it  is  (piite  possihle  that  the 
ahove  names  mav  have  heen  merclv  aliases. 


• 


I'      .       ■     'l| 


OF    NEWFOUNDLAND. 


105 


to  Lord  Haltimoro's  sottlomciit  at  Ft'iTvlnnd,  still  tlicn^  is  no 
doubt  thiit  soiuo  settlements  yt>t  rcMuained  in  tliat  bay. 
( lovernor  Wymic,  at  tlie  close  of  his  letter  to  Lord  IJaltinion', 
ot"  duly  28,  1(122,  after  i^iviiiii'  the  names  and  oei'Uj)ati()Us 
of  th(*  thii1y-t\vo  inhal)it!ints  of  his  settlement,  says:  "1 
look  for  a  mason  and  one  more  out  of  the  Hay  of  Concep- 
tion." Thus  we  are  not  surprised  to  tiiid  tiiat  there  was 
also  a  minister  of  the  Church  -of  Knuland,  namecl  Krasmus 
Stourton,  already  eslal)lished  in  the  <'ountry.  The  religious 
animosity  which  rajicd  so  sti'onuly  against  the  Jesuits  in 
Kngland  was  in  no  wise  cooled  by  its  conta<t  with  thc^  ice- 
bergs on  the  coast  of  Newt'oundland  ;  heni-e  we  tind  tlu^ 
Kev.  Mr,  Stoui'ton  waxed  cNceedingly  wrathy  when  he 
heard  of  the  arrival  of  the  priests.  Hut  his  indignation 
.seems  to  have  passed  ail  bounds  when  he  heard  that  a  third 
})riest  and  foi'ty  more  papists  had  come  out,  and  that  Mass 
was  celelirated  daily  in  the  big  house  at  Feiryland.  (lov- 
ernor  ^\'ynne,  in  his  letters  to  Lord  Haltimore,  though  ho 
di'scribes  most  minutely  .all  tlie  buildings  erected,  and  in 
cours(!  of  construction,  ni.Mkes  no  mention  of  a  chapel.  So 
that  it  is  probabh?  the  Mass  was  celebrated  in  the  i)arlor 
of  the  gr«'at  house,  :i  room  described  by  AN'ynni'  as  of"  tbur- 
teeno  foote  besides  the  chinnu'V  and  twelve  foote  broad,  of 
convenient  height";  or  in  the  h;dl,  Mhieh  is  di'scribed  .as 
"  18  feet  long,  the  whole  building  lu'ing  44  foot  of  liMigth 
and  15  fool  of  breadth."  This  was  the  tinst  building  ci'octed, 
and  no  doubt  there  was  sutlicienl  room  for  the  sm.all  congre- 
gation at  that  tinu'  existing  in  the  settleujcnt.  AN'hat  par- 
ticular act  of  ()})positioii  tlie  Kev.  Mr.  Stourton  was  guilty 
of  does  not  appeal',  but  it  must  have  been  of  a  very  grave 
and  .aggressive  character  to  hiivc  forced  a  man  of  such  tol- 
erant disiiosition  as  we  know  Lord  lialtimore  was  to  ex- 
ercise his  supreme  power  by  banishing  from  the  colony 
"  tlu^  audacious  man,"  as  he  calls  him,  "  foi  liis  misdeeds," 
Our  readers  may  judge,  from  what  we  lia\e  already  shown 
coneerninjr  Lord  Haltiiiion'"s  li'cnerosilv  and  toleration  of 
religious  dillbrences  in  Maryland,  that  the  conduct  of  this 


loi; 


KC'CI.KSlASriCAl,    IIISTOUV 


iiiMii  iiiiist  have  lu'cn  alto^^ftlicr  imlx'siraMc,  and  most  likoly 
scdiiioiis. 

His  coiKliict,  after  his  return  to  Kiiirlaiid,  will  licl[)  iis  to 
'"  III  an  opinion  upon  tlis  inaltcr.  Kicliardson  says;  "He 
Imsic'd  liiinscll'  in  iiit  ilVclnal  ciroi'ls  to  stir  np  the  I'livv 
Conncil  airainst  the  Popisii  Colony."  Dr.  Clarke  ("Catholics 
World,"  ()etol»«M',  ISS,'.)  says:  '"riie  ]\v\ .  l^rasniiis  Stonrton, 
resident  Protestant  minister  at  Ferryland,  inaile  lonnal  com- 
plaint ajrainst  liis  hu'dsliip  to  tlie  aiillioi'itie>  in  Knuland, 
tliat.  in  violation  of  tiie  law,  .Mass  was  pnltlicly  ccleltrated 
in  \ev,l(.  Midland."'  "lie  had  no  soonei'  landed  in  IMym- 
onth,"  says  Kii-ke,  (|iiotinir  iVom  th(>  "Colonial  Papei-s,"  \'()1. 
IV.,  \o.  .")!•.  "than  he  ha>tene(|  to  pre--eiit  liiiiisclt'  hel'ore 
Nirholas  Shei'uill.  .NFayor,  and  'I'lioinas  Sherwill,  Mcn-ehant, 
Itoth  dnsiiccs  of  the  Peace,  and  into  their  hori'ilied  ears  he 
poured  his  aslonndini:'  tale  of  Lord  Ualliniore's  misdeeds. 
How  the  s;ud  lord  arrived  in  Xewl'onndland  the  2.")d  of  .Inly, 
l()"i7,  and  hroiiiiht  with  him  two  seminary  prit'>ts,  one  of 
them  called  lionirville,  and  the  other  .Vnthony  Smith;  hiit 
Lonii'ville  returned  to  Knii'hind  with  the  said  Lord  llaltiinore, 
who  hroiiii'ht  out .  the  same  year,  anothei'  pi'iest  namecl  Hacket, 
and  with  him  about  40  papists:  and  how  the  said  Hacket 
and  Smith  said  ^^ass  every  Sunday  and  used  all  ollu'r 
eeremonics  of  the  ( 'liurcli  of  IJonie  in  the  ample  manner,  as 
'tis  used  in  Spain  :  and  how  the  child  of  one  ^Villiam 
J*oole,  a  Protestani,  was  hapti/ed  into  the  Romish  Church 
hy  order  of  Lord  Baltimore  and  cont'.'uiy  to  the  wish  of  iii.s 
father  I  The  brothers  Sherwill.  amazed  at  these  enormities, 
[■ent  Kev.  Mr.  Stonrton  i)ost-haste  to  the  Privy  Council 
with  a  copy  of  his  deposition  in  his  pocket."  This  extract 
from  a  certainly  unsuspected  soiu'ce  shows  us  how  Lord 
Baltimore  had  fully  est!d)lislied  the  C^itholic  reliizion  in  his 
colony,  thus  verifyinii'  tlm  suj)positi()n  of  Dr.  Mullock, 
Avho,  not  beinjx  aware  of  the  existence  of  the  above  records, 
wrote  as  follows  in  his  "History,"'  p.  11:  "We  jiavo  no 
records  of  the  state  of  Catholicity  durinjj;  Lord  P)altim()re's 
residence  in  Newfoundland;   but  it    is  to  bo  supposed  that 


I 


[ 


i  il 


OF   NKWFOUNDLANl). 


107 


I 


such  iiti  Mnlciit  (^itliolic,  who  sfnmpod  forovor  Iho  mark  of 
("atliolirity  on  tlic  very  soil  l»y  the  iiuiiifs  of  '  Avaloii'  and 
*  NCnilMiii,'  (lid  not  Icavo  those  who  followed  hitn  to  tho 
wildeni'  ss  without  in;ikiiiii'  suHici«'iit  provision  for  their 
spiritual  wants."  Allhouuh  Lord  naltiinore  no  douht  heard 
the  I'll*"  eMiuinnies  of  Kev.  Mr.  Slourton,  it  does  not 
app( ..  ii  .  :,y  fornial  notice  was  taken  of  his  complaints. 
Certaii  ii  i  that  Lord  l»aItiniore  did  not  lose  the  King's 
favor,  for,  on  August  !!•,  l(L".i,  he  writes  the  King,  thanking 
His  Majest"'for  the  loan  of  a  ship  sent  out.  It  is  in  this 
letter  that  he  ;dludes  t(»  Stoiirton  as  '' ;in  audacious  niai. 
l)anishe(l  from  the  colony  for  his  misdeeds."  Tlie  King  re- 
plied in  Xoxcmlter;  told  him  he  was  not  lit  for  such  rugu-ed 
work  as  fomiding  a  new  colony:  advised  him  to  return, 
where  he  might  he  assured  of  such  respect  as  his  former 
services  and  late  (Mideavors  Justly  deserved. 

Dr.  Clarke,  it  will  lie  seen,  alludes  to  Mr.  Stourtoii  as  the 
resident  minister  at  Fei'ryland.  It  is,  however,  almost  cer- 
tain that  there  was  no  resident  minister  tiiere  at  tliat  time. 
As  we  hav,  seen,  a  settlement  was  atti'mptcd  at  Ferryland 
by  Dr.  Vaughan  in  1(517,  hut  it  did  not  come  to  anything. 
Anspach,  in  his  ''  History  of  N'ewfoundland"  (p.  8('>),  states, 
I  know  not  on  what  authority,  that  "a  considerable  colony, 
com])ose(l  chietly  of  Puritans,  accompanied  to  Xewfoundland 
Captain  Kdward  Wymie,  whom  Sir  (leorgc  Calvert  had  sent 
with  th(^  conunission  »)f  drovernor."  That  Lord  r>altimorc 
did  not  cxclxde  Puritans  and  other  Protestants  we  may 
readily  believe,  as  was  tiie  case  also  in  the  Maryland  plan- 
tation; but  it  is  (evident  that,  while  tohu-ating  other  forms 
of  religion,  he  establisiied  the  Catholic  worship  in  his  colony, 
and  we  may  thank  Mr.  Stourton  foi'  being  tiie  means  of 
l)lacing  on  record  such  a  full  account  of  the  religious  state  of 
the  colony. 

In  Ai)ril,  1()2<S,  Lord  Baltimore  came  out  a  second  time  to 
Xewfoundland,  bringing  with  him  his  lady  and  children. 
Thi.s  was  his  second  wife  ;  his  eldest  son,  Cecil,  aftiu'wards 
found(!r  of  Maryland,  was  tlu'u  twenty-three  years  of  age  ; 


BB£a3t!!'"jJi"i.  Wi..JB!IW!l«<>|iai 


i 

1  . 


108 


p:cclesiastical  history 


and  the  sccoiul,  Li'onni'd,  avIio  aftoiwards,  as  lieutenant,  con- 
ducted the  colony  to  :Maryland,  in  the  same  old  ship,  "Tlio 
Ark,"  was  then  twenty-two  years  old.  Ilis  dauijhter,  and 
Mr.  AVilliain  Peasley,  afterwards  liis  son-in-law,  and  Kev. 
Father  Ilacket,  S.J.,  accompanied  him. 


♦ 


*    ':; 


OF    NEWFOUNDLAND. 


lOi) 


i 


CHAPTER   VIII. 


FKUIIYLAXI),    ron/hiueJ.—  [\G2S-\Gr,0.] 

Caiisi'>  (if  tin'  Fiiiliiro  of  llu'  Fori'vliiml  Colony — Liuly  IJallimiiro  Leaves  for  Miirv- 
laiid  —  Lord  ]?:illiiiuii'e  Follows,  1()"29  —  Lady  15:iltiiiiorc  Lost  at  f^ea — Haltiiiioro 
Refuses  to  take  tin;  Oalli  of  AUe^^iaiiee  as  I'roiioseil  by  Governor  I'otl  of  .lanies- 
towii  —  He  lietiiriis  to  Eiiji'laiid,  anil  Dies,  1032  —  Sir  W.  Alexander  Founds  Nova 
iSeotia,  1(1'J7  —  French  Ilnirnenots  —  t'landc  dc  St.  Ktieiuie— Sii' David  KirUe — • 
lie  Captures  the  French  Fleet  at  (ia>])r  —  Qnehcc  Capitidates,  KJ'i!)  —  Kirke  is 
I{ef;ised  his  Trize-nioney  —  Kirke  and  Kalliniore  Contrasted  —  Kirke  Iteeeives  a 
Grant  of  I'erryland,  and  Arrivi's  in  Ncwioundland,  Kl.'JS  —  Itecoiistrncls  the 
Setllenienl — The  Ten  Years'  War  in  Fnjiland  —  Kirke  is  Arrested,  l(wl,  and 
Deprived  of  his  Colony — He  lletnrns  to  Newfonndland,  lO")!!,  and  Dies  at 
Ferryland,  IGSfi  —  His  Character  —Cecil,  Second  Ivord  Baltimore,  Recovers  I'os- 
ses-iion  of  Feri'yland,  KifiO — •  Policy  of  Hrilain  Detrinu'ntal  to  the  Advancement 
of  the  Coiintrv. 


rpiIK  tivi'ival  of  Lord  I'liltiniorc  und  his  colonists  on  tho 
-»  slioivs  of  N('\vf<)iin<ll:iii(l  sccincl  to  prcsiiiro  Uw  dinvn 
ol":i  Itriiilit  iiiul  uloi'ioiis  era  in  the  liisiory  dt"  niu'  Island  home. 
If  (hat  noltlc  clfort  had  siu'cimmUmI,  who  can  pictinv  what 
woidd  to-day  have  boon  tlic  rc^sult?  Forryiand,  iiistivid  of 
vcniaininiT  as  it  is,  a  h)n('  and  stvaii'iilinii:  Hshinii-vilhiirc, 
Avoidd  lu"  tiic  modern  I>aUimore.  —  the  lii'eat  mart  of  i-om- 
nierce,  mainifactiu'e,  and  science  I  l>ut,  ahis  I  it  was  not 
dcslincMJ  to   l)e  so. 

.Mtmy  were  tiie  canses  which  coml)ined  to  hrini;'  aI»oiit  the 
faihiro  of  the  new  coh)ny  :  but  liiey  wei'c  all  accidental  or 
extrinsic.  There  wtis  no  inherent  obstacle,  either  in  the 
country  or  climate,  as  some  authors  say,  and  many  be  ieve; 
even  Lord  Baltimore  himself  thou<:hl  so.  If  r>altiinore  had 
had  tlu'  ii'ood  fortune  to  setth;  in  St.  flohn's,  'i'repassey ,  or 
some  of  the  fertile  regions  of  St.  Mary's  Bay,  and  had  sptMit 
there  the  twenty  or  thirty  thousand  [)oimds  so  fruitlessly 
siiuandered  on  the  siorile  rocks  of  Ferryland,  or  more  })r()i>- 
ably  misappropriated  by  tlishonest  agents,  what  a  wonderful 


ii 


wpHjWWtlWI" 


I' -5 


110 


ECCJ.ESIASTICAL   IIISTOKV 


(liU'cronco  would  it  liavo  caused   in  llio  future  j)rospcrity  of 
Newfoundland  ! 

Anions  the  causes  of  failure  of  llie  colony  of  Ferryland 
may  ho  stated  as  the  jjriniary  oni^  the  fact  already  alluded 
to,  vi/.,  the  slorih;  nature  of  Iho  land.  The  harhor  is  hy 
no  means  iilted  for  a  ])()rt  of  tradi^  to  any  "reat  extent,  hein<; 
greatly  expose  i  on  the  iiorthein  side  to  the  fury  of  the 
Atlantic  wavt's,  which  are  hut  very  imperfectly  kept  out  l»y 
a  low-lying'  reef.  There  is  no  level  site  for  a  town,  the  .s|)()t 
upon  which  the  settlement  stood,  now  called  "the  Downs," 
not  being"  at  all  well  ada})tcd  for  an  extensive  city  ;  and,  al)ov(; 
all,  there  is  no  belt  of  fertile  country  in  the  rear  capable  of 
cidtivation  to  make  a  feeding-ground,  so  uecessiuy  an  adjunct 
to  a  large  <'onuneivial  centre  of  pojjulation.  Among  the 
other  causes  of  failure,  Dr.  Mullock,  in  his  "  Lectures,"  men- 
tions "the  incursions  of  the  Indians  and  the  attacks  of  the 
French."  Lord  Baltimore,  in  his  letters  from  Newfound- 
land, iMnkes  no  mention  of  the;  inciu'sions  of  the  Indians; 
and  wit'  gard  to  the  attacks  of  the  French,  neither  does 
he  attril;  te  his  failure  to  that  soiu'ce.  It  is  true  tliMt  no 
sooner  was  he  well  settlcMl  down  in  his  new  colony  than  a 
hostile  Fi'cnch  tleet  ai)peared  in  the  watei's  of  Ferryland  ; 
but  Lord  Ijaltimore,  l»y  his  skill  and  courage,  soon  drove 
tliem  away.  The  following  letters,  re[)roduced  by  KirUe 
from  the  "  Colonial  I'apers,"  give,  in  his  own  words,  a  graphic 
account  of  these  atlvcnturcs.  Uoth  letters  are  dated  Ferry- 
land, August  '2'},  1()2.S.  One  is  addressed  to  the  King,  the 
other  to  the  Duke  of  riuckiiigham  :  — 

"Most  GiiAciois  and  Dkkad  Sovkukigx  :  — 

"In  this  remote  wilde  pai't  of  the  Avorlde,  where  I  iiave 
planted  myseife,  and  shall  endeavor  l)y  (iod's  Assistance  to 
eidarge  your  ]Majesty's  Dominions,  and  in  whatsoever  else  to 
serve  your  Majesty  loyallie  and  faitlifuUie  with  all  the 
l)owers  ])()th  of  my  mynde  and  bodye,  i  meet(!  with  great 
difliculties  and  intaunbrances  at  the  beginninge  (as  enter- 
prises of  this  nature!  commonly  have)  and  cannot  bee  easilie 


t 


t 


.- 


o 

33 

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00 
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5 

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I 

V  "l '■■^f  ■•If  fe^  1^  A;'',  4 

,    I    '  ../I'lr    ■     C — --.-^fr  .Be-'  '    "  .■5a-  .      -  ,   ■.  ivS 


k:!:'f| 


,ii:ii'M:-pl^ 


J''  I' ' 


|^W*K   ~ 


:v  >■■ 


■  I  i-k*' 


'-'I 


.,..1^ 


ill 


' 


OF   NKWFOUNDLAND. 


Ill 


i>a 


ovorcomc  hy  sucli  wcakc  l)!in(ls  as  inyiui  without  your  IVIaj- 
csties  s})t'ciiil  i)rot('('tion,  for  wliich  cause  I  nuist  still  rcMiow 
my  addresses  to  your  ]\IaJestie,  as  your  most  luuuble  subject 
and  va.ssall  for  the  continuance'  of  your  Princely  favor  toinoe 
and  this  work  which  I  have  taken  in  hand.  Your  Majestio's 
Su]))ects  tishinu"  this  year  in  the  harlK)urs  of  this  land  have 
been  nmch  dis(|uie(ed  hy  a  Frencinnan  of  Warre,  onc^  Mou- 
sieiu"  d(i  la  Kade  of  l)ee])e,  who  with  three  hips  and  400 
men  well  armed  and  apixjinled  came  lirst  into  a  harbor 
beloniiinu"  to  me  called  Capebroile,  where  he  surprised  divers 
of  the  lishermen,  look  Iwo  of  iheir  shipps  in  the  harltor  and 
ke|)t  the  possession  of  tin'm  lill  I  sent  two  shii)s  of  mine 
with  some  hundred  men  beinsz"  all  the  force  we  could  make 
upon  the  suddayne  in  this  places  where  I  am  jjlanted  :  uppon 
the  api)r()ach  of  which  shi})i)s  near  to  the  Harbor's  mouth  of 
Capebroile  one  of  them  b(>inii'  •J'H)  tons  witii  '2-i  pieces  of 
ordnance,  the  Ffrench  let  slip  their  cables,  and  mad(^  to  sea 
as  fast  as  they  could,  leaving  behind  them  lioth  the  English 
shipps,  whereof  they  had  formerly  ])ossessi()n.  07  of  their 
own  countrymen  on  shore,  whom  I  have  had  since  here  with 
me  prisoners.  We  followed  the  chas(!  so  long  as  wo  saw  any 
jiossibilily  of  coming  u[t[)  with  them,  l)ut  they  were  uuich 
better  of  saile  and  we  were  forced  to  give  it  over.  The 
said  de  la  Kade  hath  since  domie  more  spoils  upjjon  other 
of  your  ]\Ia'n'stie's  subjects  in  the  X.  parts  ot"  this  land,  as  1 
■was  given  to  muh'rstand  which  caused  me  to  jjursue  them  a 
second  tvnie,  but  lliev  were  driven  out  of  the  countrv  hv  a 
shijjp  of  London  before  mine  coidd  get  thilher.  Ilereupjion 
being  still  ve.xed  with  these  men,  and  iioth  myselfe  and  my 
poor  tisherie  heorc,  and  many  other  of  your  Majestie's 
subjects  nmch  injured  this  year  by  them  I  directed  my  ,shi[) 
in  consort  with  Captain  Fe!U'ue"s  ]\Ian-ot-A\'arre  then  in  this 
Country  to  seek  out  some  of  that  .Nation  at  Tre[)asse,  a 
harbor  to  the  south  of  where  they  used  to  tish.  There  they 
found  ()  shipps  f)  of  liayonne  and  one  of  St .  -lean  de  Lu/,  whom 
they  took  with  their  lading,  being  Fish  and  Irayne,  and  have 
sent  them  to  England.      I  do  hinublic  beseech  your  Majestie's 


t 


I. 


I 


1  -« 


n 


112 


ECCLESIASTICAL   HISTORY 


service,  and  to  iiive  me  leiivc^  upon  this  occasioti  to  1)C  an 
liiiiiil)le  suitor  unto  your  Majestic  both  for  inyiio  owiio 
sat'etic,  ami  tor  many  lliousands  of  your  sul)jccts  that  use  this 
laud  and  couie  hither  every  ycare,  for  tiie  most  ])arte 
wcakely  })rovi(h'd  of  defences,  that  by  your  Majestie's 
sujjreanu^  Autliority  for  the  preservation  of  your  people, 
bciuijij  ISeanicn  and  Mariners  and  tiieir  shipps,  from  the  si)oile 
of  the  enemye  (the  loss  wlu-reof  much  imports  your  Maj- 
cstie's  service)  two  men-of-warre,  at  leaste  may  bo  a[)i)oiuted 
to  ji'uard  this  coast,  and  to  be  hero  betymes  in  the  yeare  :  the 
Hshermen  to  contribute  to  the  defrayini>;  of  the  charge  which 
amoiiii'st  so  many  will  bo  but  a  small  matter,  and  easily 
borne.  J  have  humbly  entreated  My  Lord  Duke  to  recom- 
mend and  mediate  it  unto  your  Pi'inccly  wisdomc,  beseaching 
your  Majestic  to  partlon  this  unmannerlv  lcn<>th  wherewith 
I   have  presumed  to  troulde   your  patience. 

"  Ciod    Almightie     pri'scrvc    your    Majestic    with    a    long 
Kaygne  and  nuich  lia[)piness. 

"Your  Majestie's  most  loyal  subject  and 
"  IIuml)le  servant, 

"(JI-:0.    r.ALTIMOKE. 

••  Ki:iii!Vi,AM>,  L'.">  Aii^iisi,  l(;2s." 


' 


i.   'I 


Itl.j 


To  the  Duke  of  Buckingham,  on  the  same  date,  he  writes  : — 

"1  I'emcmber  that  his  Majestic  once  told  me  that  1  writer  a 
fairer  hand  to  look  upon  a  farre  as  any  man  in  England,  but 
that  mIicu  any  man  came  neare  it  they  were  not  able  to  read 
a  word!  A\'hercui)on  I  got  a  disi)ensation  I>()th  from  His 
Majestic  and  your  (jrace  to  use  another  man's  pen  when  1 
write  to  either  of  you,  and  I  humi>ly  thank  you  for  it,  tor 
writing  is  a  great  pain  to  nice  nowe. 

"I  owe  your  (irace  an  account  of  my  actions  and  proceed- 
ings in  this  i)lantati()n,  since  under  your  i)atronagc,  and  by 
your  honorable  mediation  to  his  Majesty,  I  have  transi)lanted 
myself  hither.  I  came  to  build,  to  sett,  to  sowe,  but  I  am 
fain  to  tiirhtiuir  with  Frenchmen,     ,      .     .     I  have  desired  this 


OF   NEWFOUNDLAND. 


113 


bearer  M''.  Peasley  some  time  a  servant  of  our  late  Sov- 
ereigne,  who  for  company,  I  have  had  liecre  this  sunnner  to 
attend  your  Graee  on  my  1)ehalf,  and  I  huml)ly  i)eseeche  you 
to  vouchsafe  mo  aeeesse  to  your  person,  as  there  siiall  ho 
occasion,  with  favour,  and  T  shall  always  rest  the  same,  now 
and  forever, 

"Your  (irace's  most  faithfidl  and 
"Humble  servant, 

"  GEO.    BALTIMORE. 

'•  FKituvi.ANn.  Anii.  2."),  l('.2s." 


William  Peasley,  afterwards  Lord  l>altimore"s  son-in-law, 
was  the  bearer  of  thesi;  des[);itches. 

His  request  was  gi-anted,  and  two  of  the  ships  which  ho 
had  taken  as  priztis  in  Trepassey,  the  "  Esperance  "  and  the 
"S.  Claude,'"  were  sent  out  to  Xewfoundland  under  com- 
mand of  Leonard  Calvert,  his  lordshi|)"s  second  son,  a  youth 
of  twenty-two  years  of  age.  From  this  it  would  apjiear  tiiat 
it  was  not  fear  of  the  French  which  drove  Lord  Ijallimore 
from  Ferryland.  Ih'  had  proved  himself  well  al)le  to  defend 
himself  against  them  •  and  the  remains  of  munerous  pieces  of 
heavy  ordnance  still  to  be  seen,  half  buried  in  the  sand,  upon 
the  Downs  and  the  oi)[)osite  island,  called  "Isle  o'  Uoys"  (Me 
aux  jDoi's),  show  that  he  had  made  am})le  preparations  to 
repel  their  attacks.  Tlu^  fact  is  that  a  scries  of  un[)roi)itiou.s 
circumstances  culminated  in  causing  the  failure  of  the 
colony.  That  winter  ]iai)pened  to  be  a  most  unusually 
severe  one.  Sickness  broke  out  among  the  colonists,  and 
Lady  P)altimoro  soon  found  that  the  trials  and  privations  of 
colonial  life  were  more  tlian  she  I'oidd  bear.  She  remained 
but  one  winter  in  Newfoundland,  and  left  some  time  in  the 
spring  of  l()2i),  conducted  by  her  son,  Cecil,  for  \irgii:ia. 
No  doubt  the  dei)arture  of  this  lady  tended  much  to  render 
Lord  IJaltimore  discontent  with  his  new  colony  ;  so,  wearied 
out  at  length  by  so  many  trials,  he  wrote  to  the  King  on  the 
19th  August,  1()21>,  asking  for  a  grant  of  land  in  Virginia. 
In  this  letter  he  explains  some  of  his  motives  for  leaving 


114 


ECCLESIASTICAL   IIISTOHV 


il 


;  i 


Forryliiiul.  "I  Imvc,"  he  writes,  ''met  with  <;i'avo  (lifficultioE 
and  cnc'uinhraiK'os  hei"o,  wiiicii  in  this  plnco  are  no  h)ngor  to  l)e 
resisted,  hut  enfoire  inc  to  presently  quit  my  residence,  and 
to  shift  to  some  other  warmer  climate  of  this  New  World, 
where  the  winters  be  shorter  and  less  rijiorous. 

"  For  here  your  ^Majesty  may  please  to  understand  that  I 
have  found  hy  too  dear  bouu'ht  experience,  which  other  men 
for  their  private  interests  always  concealed  from  me  :  that 
from  the  middlest  of  Octolu'r  to  the  niiddlest  of  May  there 
is  a  sad  far<'  of  winter  upon  all  this  land  both  sea  and  land 
so  frozen,  for  the  <;reater  part  of  th(^  time,  as  they  are  not 
l)enetral)le,  no  i)lant  or  ve<;etal)le  thinu'  ajjpearinijf  out  of  the 
earth  until  about  the  l)ei>innin<jf  of  May,  nor  lish  in  the  sea, 
besides  the  air  is  so  intolemble  cold  as  it  is  hardly  to  bo 
endured,  by  means  whereof,  {vnd  of  nmch  salt  meet  my  house 
hath  l)een  an  hosi)ital  all  this  winter  ;  of  one  hundred  j)ersons 
fifty  sick,  myself  beinj^  one,  and  nine  or  ten  of  them  died. 

"Hereu])on  I  had  stroiiu"  temptations  to  leave  all  i)roceed- 
ings  in  plantations,  and  beiiii:'  nuich  decayed  in  my  strength 
to  retire  myself  to  my  former  (juiet,  but  my  inclination 
carr3'in<i  me  naturally  to  these  kind  of  works  ;  and  not  know- 
ing how  blotter  to  employ  the  ])()or  remainder  of  my  days, 
than  Avitli  other  good  subjects  to  further,  the  best  I  may,  the 
enlarging  of  Your  Majesty's  domain,  N'irginia  Mhere,  if  Your 
Majesty  \\,ll  jilease  to  grant  me  a  })recinct  of  land,  Avitli 
such  pi'ivileges  as  tlie  King  your  father  was  j)leased  to  grant 
me  here  J  shall  endeavor  to  tlu;  utmost  to  deserve  it." 
(Richardson,  from  Neil's  "Founders  of  ^laryland."') 

The  King,  though  urging  him  to  return  to  England,  yet 
granted  his  request.  He  left  Newfoundland  for  good 
about  the  month  of  September,  102!),  a  little  over  two  years 
from  the  date  of  his  tirst  arrival,  in  July,  1(527.  "Thus," 
says  Dr.  Mullock  (p.  1;")),  "Newfoundland  sustained  an 
irreparable  loss,  which  retarded  her  progress  for  two  cen- 
turies." It  w'ould,  i)erhaps,  have  fared  better  for  him,  and 
for  Lady  Baltimore,  too,  had  they  remained  on  the  shores 
of  Newfoundland,  which,  if  bleak,  were  at  least  free  from 


¥ 


OF   NEWFOUNDLAND. 


llf) 


persecution.  No  sooiu^r  did  lie  arrive  at  Virfrini.'i  than  Gov- 
ernor Pott,  of  »Ianiesto\vn,  tendered  liini  llie  Oalli  of  Ali(v 
gianee,  or  rather  Supreniaev,  an  oath  whieli,  we  have  already 
seen,  he  refused  in  conscienee  to  take  previously  in  Kni^hmd. 
This  deviee  Avas  resorted  to  desiiriiedly  l)y  liis  euenii(>s  in 
order  to  exclude  him  from  tiiat  country,  and  to  alford 
the  pretext  of  aecusinix  him  of  dish)yalty.  II(^  of  course 
refused  to  lake  the  oatli  in  the  form  in  whicli  it  nas  pre- 
sented, and  was  compelled  to  return  to  England,  lea\  in^  liis 
wife  and  family  and  valuable  i)late  and  })roi)erly  behind  him. 
In  the  followiuL!:  year,  KJ.'JO,  he  sent  out  a  vessel  to  brini"; 
them  home,  but  the  unfortunate  lady  was  lost  at  sea.  In  the 
year  K!;)!  Lord  Baltimore  renewed  his  api)licati()n  for  a 
patent  in  A'irginia  :  and,  notwithstanding  the  strong  oi)posi- 
lion  and  misrepresentations  of  his  enemies,  the  grant  was 
made  to  him  by  the  King,  whose  favor  he  retained  all 
through.  The  charter  was  drawn  up  by  Lord  IJaltimoro 
himself,  and  was  mainly  mod(dled  on  the  Avaloii  patent. 
JJeforc  it  had  i)asse<l  the  seals  he  died,  April  !>,  l()o2,  in  the 
tiftv-third  year  of  his  affo,  and  the  charter  was  issued  in 
Juno  to  his  son.  AVe  have  already  seen  how  Lord  Balti- 
more, on  receiving  his  patent,  immediately  api)lied  to  Father 
Blount,  })rovincial  of  the  Jesuits,  for  some  of  the  fathers  of 
the  Society  to  accompany  his  colony.  At  that  time  Father 
More,  who  afterwards  became  i)rovincial  (in  1(140),  and 
defended  Lord  lialtimoi  ;  m  a  letter  to  the  Cardinal  Prefect 
of  Propaganda,  was  in  high  authority  and  esteem  in  the 
Society.  He  was  great-grandson  of  the  blessed  Sir  Thomas 
More,  the  celel)rated  chancellor,  who  sudered  death  for  his 
faith  under  Henry  Wll.  Now,  it  is  most  pr()l)able  that  this 
Father  ^Nlore  assisted  Lord  P>altimore  in  the  drawing  up  of 
the  niagniticent  and  noble  constitution  of  the  new^  colony 
of  Maryland,  and  that  they  modelled  it  as  near  as  i)ossiblo 
upon  that  most  perfect  of  commonwealths  imagiue(L  or  per- 
haps foreseen,  by  Sir  Tho'i.is  iMo.'e,  and  described  by  him 
under  the  name  of  Utopuv.  Major-General  Johnston,  a 
Protestant  writer,  in  his  "Foundation  of  Maryland"  says: 


116 


ECCLKSIASTICAL   IIISTOKV 


f  ;; 


"Tlio  rcliirioiis  inslitiilions  of  tlio  ideal  state,  Eiilopia,  Avcrc 
exactly  siicli  MS  Baltimore  founded  in  Alary  land."  And  a 
t'oniparison  of  tiie  two  docunients  sliows  a  most  stiiisinir  and 
instriielive  resemhlanee. 

To  return  to  Ferrylaud.  In  order  to  account  for  the 
appearance  of  tiu^  French  tieet  in  a  hostile'  attitude;  in  the 
waters  of  Newfoundland,  as  well  as  for  the  sul)se(pient  his- 
tory of  this  ill-tated  colony,  it  will  ho  lu^cessary  to  take;  a 
ji'ctrospcH'tiv  e  <xlanc(^  at  the  conteiiipoi'ary  history  of  the 
iiciiihliorini:"  colonies.  It  is  dilllcult,  indeed,  to  uinvivcd  the 
contused  weh  of  contradictory  events  and  conllictiuLT  accounts 
■which  present  themselves  to  the  student  of  this  portion  of 
colonial  history.  The  cool  and  niai^naniinous  nonchalance 
with  which  the  povcreigns  of  Europe  f>avo  out  va>t  and  un- 
limited ii'i'anls  of  unknown  territories  in  the  New  World  could 
not  but  1)1'  i)roductive  of  strife  and  contention,  a  relic  of  which 
prevail-^  even  to  the  present  day  on  what  is  cidled  tin;  "  French 
Shore"  of  Xcwfoundland.  Iviu'hts  mutually  incomi)atiI)lo 
Averc  serenely  conceded  by  their  majesties,  15ritaimic  and 
Alost  Christian,  at  the  Treaty  of  Utrecht,  which  have  been  an 
endless  source  of  bickerinir'  .'nid  discontent  between  tlu;  tish- 
ennen  of  Fiance  and  the  inhabitants  of  the  Island  of  New- 
foundland, and  a  heavy  clog  u\H)n  the  i)ro<rress  of  the  colony. 

Since  the  foundation  of  (^lu-'bec,  by  Champlain,  in  1(!()<S, 
France  had  retained  possession  of  all  Canada  and  Acadia, 
luulerthc  title  of  "  Xouvelle  France";  but,  in  KLM,  Sir  W'ill- 
iam  Alexander  obtained  a  uraiit  of  a  portion  of  Acadia,  which 
he  called  ''  Nova  Scotia."  Nothing  was  dom;  in  the  way 
of  colonization  at  the  time,  as  the  French  were  in  I'ull  pos- 
session, and  a  ])arty  of.eniigrants  sent  out  returned  again  to 
P>ngland.  King  .lames  I.  died  in  1(!2'),  and  Sir  W .  Alex- 
ander had  the  gi'ant  conHnued  by  Charles  I.,  -July  12,  1()27. 
At  that  time  France  presented  a  pitiful  asjjcct.  Intestine 
war  between  \\w.  Catholics  and  Huguenots  ])revailed  ;  and 
the  Duke  of  lUickingham  (^'illiers)  unwai'rantal)]y  drew  Eng- 
land into  the  contest  by  ollering  himself,  with  an  English 
fleet,  for  the  relief  of  the  Protestant  stronghold  of  La  Kochellc. 


OF   NKWFOUNDLAND. 


117 


V' 


This  ill-iii!inii<r('(l  !illcmi»l  was  an  iLTiuniiiiiioiis  failinv.  From 
this  time  we  hchoid  (ho  coiitciiiplililc  spcclaclc^  of  incii  who, 
haviiijjc  (irst  rcnomiccd  their  national  I'ailh,  coinplctcd  their 
(h';j:ra(l!ilion  by  renoiincinii^  their  national  aIl(\u:ianeo  and 
llirhtint'  under  a  loreiiin  banner  airainst  their  own  country- 
men.  Such  were  Claude  de  la  Tour,  ulhix  ("laude  <lo  St. 
Ktiemie.  David  Kii»ke,  and  ('a[)tain  Mitelud.  Speakiiii^  of 
the  i'oriner,  de  la  Tour,  Henry  Kirke,  M.A.,  eti\,  in  \\\a 
work  on  tlie  "(\>n(iuest  of  Canada,"  says  (pairo  i")!!)  h(>  was 
"a  French  adventurer,  (Mpially  devoid  of  reliuion  and  honesty  ; 
a  lluiruenol  and  a  Protestant  under  the  British  monarch;  a 
Catholic  under  liOUis  XI\'.  At  all  times  an  active,  enter- 
prising', treacherous,  and  unscrupulous  man,  who  made 
reli<iion  a  stalkinjx-liorse  to  "ain  the  oldect  of  his  ambition." 
"This(>nter])risin<,^  man"  (says  (Jarneau,  ''History  of  Canada,"' 
Chap.  HI.,]),  lot)),  "a  French  Protestant,  who  had  lately 
taken  service  in  tlu^  Kniilish  navy,  had  been  taken  jjrisoncr 
and  cai'ricd  to  Ijoiidou,  where  he  was  well  received 
at  court.  .  .  .  He  married  one  of  the  maids  of  honor, 
and  was  created  a  Ijaronet  of  Nova  Scotia.  .  .  .  Tho 
unirrateful  duty  devohcd  upon  him  of  attcmptiuLi:  to  bring 
his  own  son  under  submission;  the  latter,  true  to  his  coun- 
try's cause,  being  in  eonunaud  of  a  French  fort  at  Ca[)e 
Sable."  Now,  it  may  not  Ix^  very  pleasant  for  Mr.  II(Muy 
Kirke  to  hear  his  ancestor.  Sir  David,  in  whom  he  takes  such 
a  pride,  spoken  of  in  imfavorable  terms  ;  yet  h(>,  is  treated  by 
French  historians  pi'ctty  nmcli  in  the  same  tri'uehant  styh^ 
as  Mr.  Kii'ke  himself  deals  with  the  i^enepuU;  de  la  Tour. 
David  (afterwards  Sir  David)  Kirk(^  was  "a  mastei- mariner 
of  Die[)i)e,"  that  is  to  say,  a  Frciuhman  i»y  l)irth.  His  father, 
indeed,  was  an  Knglishman,  (icu'vase  Kirke,  a  Ivondou  mer- 
chant, who,  in  order  to  increase  the  wealth  and  mercantile 
inlliu'ucc  of  his  family,  married  Flizabeth,  daughter  of  M. 
(ioudon,  of  l)iei)i)e.  David,  the  eldest  son,  Avas  born  in 
1,")1I7.  In  1()27,  David  being  then  about  thirty  years  of 
age,  a  company  was  formed  in  London  by  Sir  AVilliam 
Alexander,  on  the  renewal  of  his  grant  by  King  Charles. 


118 


ECCLi:SIASTICAL   IlISTOUY 


•  1 


Cipvvnso  Kirko  was  ji  nuMuhcr  of  lliis  roinpjiiiy.  A  sniiill 
lU'i't  of  llirco  ships  was  llUcd  out  and  placi'd  uiid'-r  tlio 
comtnaiid  of  David  Kirkc.  "  Tlicy  had  obtained  hitters  of 
inar<ini'  iVoni  tlic  Kiiii;  under  tlu*  hroad  seal,  jiiving  Ihcni 
authority  to  capture  and  (U'stroy  any  French  ships  they  niiiiht 
encounter''  (Kirke,  p.  (il).  TIk^  loMowini^  is  tlio  man- 
ner in  uhicli  French  authors  speak  of  t.liis  e.\i)edilion  :  L. 
Ahi)e  IJrasscur  iW.  liourhourij:  ("Ilistoin;  du  CaiKida,"  C'liap. 
II.,  ]).  3."))  says:  "Sjp  David  Kirck,  a  Frenclunan,  native 
()t'  Dieppe,  but  a  llujxuonot,  wiio  iiad  passed  over  to  the 
Fnu'lish,  whose  treason  was  rewarded  by  tith's  and  honors, 
received  a  special  connnission  for  Canada."  M.  FiM'land 
("Corns  d'llistoire  du  (\'inada,"  Chap.  VII.)  says:  "Some 
Frenchmen,  Iluiiucnots,  undertook  to  destroy  tiie  French 
establishments  in  Canada.  Da\  id  Kerik,  born  at  Dieppe, 
had  passed  over,  with  his  ])rothers  Louis  and  Thomas,  into 
the  Enirlish  service,  as  did  in  those  days  many  other  Cal- 
vinists  who  preferred  Enirland  to  their  own  country.  The 
three  brothers  had  contract (mI  a  taste  for  danirerous  enter- 
prises,  and  were  reputed  as  very  good  navigators  l)y  the 
Dieppians,  at  that  time  tlie  most  skilful  and  hardy  sailors 
of  France.  Thanks  to  their  talents  and  energy  the  Kertks 
advanced  rapidly  in  England.  The  head  of  the  family.  Sir 
David  Kertk,  with  the  assistance  of  his  brothers  and  some 
wealthy  relations  in  England,  fitted  out,  at  great  expense, 
several  shi[)s.  Having  received  a  connnission  from  the  King 
of  England  he  sent  .  .  .  three  ships  ...  to  drive 
the  French  out  of  Quebec." 

Kirkc  exercised  his  privileges  to  the  fullest  extent.  He 
captured  and  plundered  French  vessels  wherever  he  met 
them.  He  waylaid  a  convoy  of  twenty  ships  at  Gaspe  laden 
with  provisions  and  general  supplies  for  Quebec,  under  Rocpie- 
mont,  and  returned  to  England  with  the  prizes.  Tlic  cajjt- 
ure  of  this  fleet  reduced  Champlain  and  his  people  in  Que])ec 
to  the  verge  of  starvation,  so  that  they  were  obliged  to  sub- 
sist on  roots  and  herbs.  The  Kirkes  were  declared  in  France 
traitors  and  public  enemies,  and  burnt  in  efligy  in  Paris. 


II' 

m 


■  i" 


OP   NEWFOUNDLAND. 


119 


(Henry  Kirkc,  )).  <»<•.)  In  tlio  H[)rin<;  of  l(i21)  a  more 
powt'i'l'iil  iuiiiaiiu'iit  of  five  Klilps  niul  lliivo  j)iiinnc'cs,  well 
armed  iind  iiiamied,  wa.s  tilted  out  hy  tlie  London  Coinpimy 
and  placed  in  eliarue  of  tlu;  Kirkes,  David,  Louis,  and  'i'lioini»><. 
They  ean  led  all  before  tlieni.  (^nehi'e,  n'dueed  to  tln^  utmost 
extremity  hy  the  want  of  every  article  of  food,  elothinij,  im- 
plements, and  ammunition,  fell  an  easy  victim,  and  capitulated 
on  the  IMh  of  August,  l(i29.  Kirke  returned  homo  flushed 
\vith  tiiumj)!!,  and  laden  with  booty,  peltry,  etc.  lint  what 
was  his  consternation  to  find  that  peace  had  bei^n  proclaimed 
between  France;  and  ICnixland  on  the  24th  of  April  pi'evious, 
just  one  month  alti-r  he  had  sailed  from  Gravt'send  (2oth 
March),  and  that  the  Lnjilish  king  had  pledged  his  word 
that  all  forts  captured  by  tho  English  after  that  dato  should 
be  restored,  as  w(dl  as  all  furs  and  other  merchandise  brought 
by  the  Kirkes  from  Canada.  In  vain  Kirke  pi^titioncd, 
showed  how  \u'  had  su|)plied  ])rovisions,  etc.,  to  tho  French 
at  Quebec.  He  was  summoni-d  before  tho  Mayor,  ordered 
to  deliver  up  the  ki-y  of  the  warehouse  where  the  goods  were 
kept  ;  and  all  their  j)roperty  was  taken.  However,  a  com- 
mission was  formed  to  estimate  the  losses  of  tho  Company, 
and  an  award  adjudged,  to  be  paid  by  the  French  govc^rn- 
menl,  of  £2(),i)()().  Finally,  the  French  govermnent  reinidi- 
ated  th(!  claim,  and  the  money  was  never  paid.  (Henry 
Kirke,  p.  «!>. ) 

I  have  gone  into  this  digression  in  order  that  my  readers 
may  have  a  complete  ac(iuaintance  with  the  character  and 
antecedents  of  the  man  into  whose  hands  the  abandoned  col- 
ony of  Lord  Baltimore  afterwards  fell.  That  ho  was  a  skil- 
ful mariner  and  a  bold  and  brave  coimnander  cannot  be 
demied  ;  but,  looked  upon  from  a  higher  stand-point,  it  is  evi- 
dent that,  for  l)readlh  of  view,  for  nobleness  of  concej)lion, 
for  statesman-like  al)ilily,  for  philanthi'()i)ic  sentiments,  and 
all  that  goes  to  make  up  the  character  of  a  "great"  man,  Sir 
David  Kirke  cannot  at  all  compare  with  Lord  Baltimore.  At 
the  same  tinu;  it  nuist  be  admitted  that  his  rough,  seaman-likc} 
training,  his  indomitable  courage  and  practical  turn  of  mind, 


120 


ECCLESIASTICAL   IlISTOKV 


n  t 


!i: 


J'       '! 

II   ^ 


niadc  liiiu  a  lillcr  inaii  for  the  foiindiiiir  of  a  colony  in  a  '.viltl, 
uvAY  count rv,  —  a  work  for  which  Lord  JJahiniorc's court  train- 
ing and  rather  Utopian  ideas  loagroat  extent  untitled  him. 

Henry  Kirke,  so  often  quoted,  and  from  whom  I  shall  l)e 
oldiged,  maip.ly,  to  draw  for  the  remaining  portion  of  the  his- 
tory of  Feiryland,  and  whose  work,  "The  ('oii(|uest  of  Can- 
ada," may  he  considered  as  a  panegyric  of  his  illustrious 
ancetor,  says,  at  page  1(!"),  "Sir  David  had  an  ecpial  dis- 
like to  hoth  Catholics  and  Puritans."  \o\v,  from  what  we 
have  seen  of  Baltimore's  character,  it  is  plain  tiiat  he  rose 
ahove  such  feelings  altogether. 

Sir  David  Kirke,  liaving  found  all  etlorts  iinavailal)le  to 
ohtain  the  money  stipulad'd  for  him,  and  which  no  douht  was 
his  due,  asked  })ermission  of  the  King  to  take  u\)  the  colony 
deserted  by  Lord  lialtimore  in  1(]29,  nearly  eight  years  pre- 
viously. 

On  the  loth  of  November,  1()37,  Kirke  receiv«'d  a  jiatent 
of  "all  that  whole  Continent  Island  or  n^gion,  commoidy 
calliMl  or  known  1)V  the  nam(^  of  New  found  Lande  bordering 
upon  the  Conlinente  of  America."  Kirke  came  oui  '  ■< 
Ferryland  with  one  hundred  uhmi  in  the  s|)ring  of  1(!.")<S.  lie 
foruji'd  a  company  to  carry  on  \hc  trade,  giving  a  new  im- 
petus to  the  colony.  "  Ib^  was  accompanied  by  a  faithtid 
and  devoted  wife.  Children  had  been  born  to  him,  and  his 
house  at  Ferryland  was  tilled  with  stalwart  sons  and  fair 
(laughters."  (Kirke,  p.  IS,").)  lie  was  not  dismayed  by 
the  ditlit'ulties  which  had  driven  away  Lord  IJallimore.  lie 
wrote  a  highly  intere>tmg  account  of  the  country.  He  pro- 
nounces the  c'limate  healthy,  though  rather  severe.  "  lie 
was,"  says  Henry  Kirke,  "a  good  Churchncni  and  an  ad- 
mirer of  .\.rchI)ishop  Laud,  with  whom  he  kept  up  a  regular 
correspondent-e.*'  He  acknowledged  tlu^  great  source  of 
wealth  in  Newfoundland  to  consist  m  her  tisheries,  iuid  stroxe 
to  develop  them,  lie  eiu'ouraged  all  lishermen  iVeiiuenling 
the  coast,  erecting  sheds,  etc.,  f)r  them.  This  ai'oused  the 
jealousy  of  the  I'ritish  lishernr'n,  whose  policy  from  the  be- 
o'iimino'  was  {o  prevent  all  i)ermanent  settlement  in  the  conn- 


1 


OF   NKWFOUXDLANI). 


121 


1 


try.  A  jiotition  was  sent  to  tlio  Privy  Council  auaiust  liiin  iti 
1(540.  IIo  \v:is  ju'cuscd  of  seizing  their  i)roi)erty  and  .scllini;- 
or  disposing  of  it  to  aliens  ;  setting  up  taverns  "  wlierehy  the 
lisherinen  waste  their  estates  and  grow  disorderly."  lie  writes 
iVoni  "Flerelaiid  l:.Mh  of  Septenilx'r  I'llO"  to  the  l*rivy  Conn- 
ed })r()testing  before  (rod  "that  all  that  they  have  alledged 
ag'  me  is  most  false."'  "Many  of  tlu^  Fislicrnien  them- 
selves," he  says,  "n[)on  what  grounds  I  know  not,  have  this 
3'eare  drivine  tiieir  stages  and  Cooke-roonies  in,  so  mut-li 
that  y''  most  sevill  and  widest  humi  amongst  them  did  tiiem- 
selves  coniijlaine  to  me  of  these  outrages.  ...  1  con- 
fesse  he  tliat  would  interrupt  tin;  ilishmge  of  Newfoundland 
whieh  is  (Uie  ol  the  most  eonsiderahh^  business  llortlie  King- 
doms of  Ills  Ma'"  and  Ix-nelit  of  his  siiljjeets  and  navigation, 
is  worthy  the  niune  of  traitour.  the  least  thought  and  imagi- 
nation wher(>of  J  do  ahhorre." 

A\'e  now  enter  upon  the  memorahle  piM'iod  of  the  ten  years' 
eivil  war  in  England,  l)i'tw(>en  the  King  and  the  Covenantcu's, 
the  loyalists  and  IJonndheads,  wiiieh  cuhninaled  in  the  cap- 
ture and  execution  of  liie  niiforlunate  monarch,  Charles  I., 
on  the  iSOlh  of  January,  IdlH.  l)iniiig  tliese  inlerneeino 
strugu'les  the  hrothcrs  Kirke  remained  loyal  to  the  King, 
and  Louis  distinguished  himself  al  the  siege  of  (ilouceste- 
and  the  battle  of  Xewl)ury,  and  was  knighted  by  the  King 
at  Oxford,  Kil^. 

''Sir  David  r<'mained  in  undisturbed  ])ossessioii  of  X(>w- 
foundlaiid,  and  kept  the  Royal  Stan. lard  contimially  hoisted 
in  front  of  his  house  and  fort  at  Eeiryland '"  (p.  171  ).  lie 
even  oU'ered  the  King  an  asylum  there  when  fjigland  became 
unsafe  for  His  Majesty,  lie  proeured.  by  oifeis  ot'  high  pay, 
I'onr  hundred  seamen  to  man  his  >hips.  which  he  armed  with 
heavy  gims.  to  maintain  his  position.  On  the  death  of  the 
King  and  the  triumph  of  the  ( 'romwellians  he  still  deter- 
mined to  hold  out,  and  wrote  to  I'rince  Kiqiert.  who  was 
cruising  in  the  Knglish  channel  with  u  licet,  to  make  sail  for 
Xewl'oundland  ;  but ,  die  rumor  of  his  intention  having  been 
brought  to  London,  a  lleet,  under  iSir  George  Aysoue,  was 


II  ( 

r  > 


If 


122 


ECCLESIASTICAL   HISTORY 


sent  iiiiiiiiist  him,  ami  he  clmniicd  his  courses  for  narhadoos. 
After  the  coiKjucst  by  the  insurgents,  the  victors,  as  is  to  he 
supposed,  set  to  work  to  divide  the  spoils.  All  who  had 
es').;used  the  cau^e  of  the  Kinir  Avere  (h-ehired  rel)els  to  the 
C/Onnnon\veaUh,  and  delincpienls,  and  their  property  seques- 
trated. The  Kirkes,  Avho  were  known  to  1)0  zealous  loyal- 
ists, did  not,  of  eoiu'se,  escape- ;  yet  th<!  i)osition  of  Sir  David 
was  soniething  exce})ti()nal,  and  not  an  ordinai'y  one.  lie  had 
not  actually  l)t)rno  anus  in  the  Koyal  cause.  l>y  his  grant 
he  exercisinl  palatinate  jurisdiction  in  Newfoundland  of  the 
liighest  sort.  The  Government,  tlietefore,  fell  hack  on  the 
charges  which  had  been  made  against  him  before  the  Avar 
broke  out;  and,  conse(|uently,  on  tin;  <Sth  of  April,  K!")!,  a 
Avarrant  was  issued  agiiinst  him,  and  Thomas  Thoroughgood 
Avas  ordered  to  sail  in  the  ''Crescent"  to  Newfoundland  and 
bring  Kirke  to  England  to  answer  tlu;  charges.  An  oi'der 
Avas  issued  at  the  same  time  to  fb)hn  Trcworgie  and  ^\'idter 
Sykes  to  proceed  in  the  "Crescent"'  and  se'jucstrate  all  ord- 
nance, houses,  boats,  etc.,  belonging  to  Kirke  ;  and  to  collect 
taxes  from  the  fishermen. 

They  arrived  in  England  in  Septcnil»ci',  If!.")!  ;  but  the 
cause  was  delayed  from  time  >o  time,  and  was  not  heard 
till  the  11th  of  flune,  1(')")2,  when  the  connuiUee  decided 
that  "Sir  David  Kirke  had  no  authority  in  Newfoundland  un- 
der the  grant  of  Charles  Stuai't  ;  that  all  forts,  houses,  stages, 
and  otlu'r  appurtenances  relating  to  the  lidiing  trade;  and 
established  on  tlu;  I>land  .  .  .  should  l»e  forfeited  to 
the  (ioveriMuent  ;  .  .  .  tliat  he  is  at  liberty  to  send 
over  his  wife  and  servants  to  take  care  of  his  estate  ;  '"  at  the 
same  time  instructions  were  given  to  AValter  S\kes  and 
otliers  "to  repair  thiliur  innne(liately  and  take  possession  of 
ordnance,  etc..  to  collect  imi)ositions,  until  Parliament  declare 
their  further  pleasure."  Permission  was  granted  to  Kirke  to 
go  out  to  Newfoundland  provided  he  would  i>ive  security  to 
return  when  re(|uire(l,  and  to  pay  such  sums  as  should  a|)pear 
dnt'  from  him  to  the  Connnonweailh.  He  eamo  out  to  New- 
foundland in    1(!.")2,  and  returned  to  Kniiland   in   ll!,").'?.     IIi- 


i 


t 


III 


I 


OF   NEWFOUNDLAND. 


123 


was  ordcrod  to  ai)p(':u'  before  tlic  Council  (»ii  the  1st  of 
Ai)ril  of  that  year.  There  is  no  douht  but  he  was  harassed 
in  a  very  unuenerous  manner  durin«^  this  time.  He  made  Ji 
friend  of  Col.  Clayi)ole,  CromweH's  son-in-law,  and  the 
matter  was  finally  settled  by  his  ()btainin«r  the  removal  of  the 
senteiu'(!  of  se(]ue^tration  of  all  the  j)roj)crty  with  the  excep- 
tion of  the  ordnance  and  forts  ;  and  he  was  allowed  to  re- 
turn to  Xewfoundland  upon  entering  into  a  bond  of  double 
the  value  of  his  estate  to  answer  anv  chariics  which  mi<jht  he 
brought  against  him.  lie  arrived  in  the  autuum  of  1(;,')3. 
"And,"  writes  his  descendant,  Henry  KirUe,  in  the  book  from 
whii'h  we  have  condensed  all  the  foregoing  partii'ulars,  "at 
this  time  his  troubles  seemed  to  be  over,  and  he  might  with 
reason  look  forward  to  a  life  of  ha[)piness  and  usefidness  iu 
the  wild  but  interesting  country  in  which  he  had  estal)lished 
himself.  .  .  .  l)Ut  all  these  hopes  and  expectations  were 
blighted  by  his  <lcatli,  which  took  plac(!  in  the  winter  of 
1  (!,")'>-(!.  in  the  lifty-sixth  year  of  his  age."  In  his  death  the 
pi'ospects  of  Newfoundland  received  another  irreparable 
blow  ;  lor,  though  he  appears  to  havi;  been  not  so  lenient  in 
religious  matters  as  Lord  IJaltimore,  and  to  have  completely 
(^radicate<l  tiic  foundations  of  Catholicism  planted  by  Calvert, 
yet  it  cannot  be  denied  that  he  was  a  man  of  great  energy 
and  perseverance,  and  one  who  would  have  done  nmcli  for 
the  material  advancement  of  the  country  had  I'nn  ideui-e  so 
willed  it.  We  have  no  reluctance  in  indorsing  every  word 
of  tlic  encomium  i)Mssed  on  him  by  Heury  Kirke  (pp. 
LSI-."))  :  — 

"III'  was  of  a  robust  constitution;  liul  tronlile  and  anxiety 
and  the  exp(»sure  for  many  years  to  tlu'  rigor  of  an  exli'emcly 
cold  climate  must  lia\e  made  him  prematiu-ely  old,  and  laid 
the  seetU  of  the  disease  which  e\cnlually  carried  liimoirat 
a  comparatively  early  age.  .  .  .  If  we  may  judge  by  his 
actions,  he  was  cci'lainly  an  extraoi'dinary  i)erson.  He  was 
essentially  a  piactical  man.  1 1  is  theories  were  nevei'slultilied 
by  his  actions.      His  success  in  most  cases,  c(!rtainly  in  those 


Wi 


124 


ECCLESIASTICAL  IlISTOUY 


which  depended  on  his  own  oxerlions,  far  exceeded  liis  ex- 
pectations. But  throuuhout  his  life  he  was  most  unfortunate 
in  all  his  undertakinus.  Never  were  the  achieven)ents  of  an 
Euiilish  officer  more  unretpiited.  Tin;  capture  of  Canada  and 
Nova  Scotia,  the  destruction  of  a  French  licet  of  ciiihteen 
sail,  and  the  expenditure  of  £10, 000,  was  ill-rewarded  l»y  an 
honorary  addition  to  his  arms.  But,  instead  of  heiuir  dis- 
couraged by  his  ill-success,  he  was  only  spurred  on  to  new 
exertions.  He  was  the  oidy  man  of  his  time  Avho  fully 
appreciated  the  value  of  the  Newfoundland  tisheries  :  and, 
undeterred  by  the  failure  which  attend(Ml  Lord  r>altiiu()re. 
Lord  V'auiihan,  and  others,  who  had  attempted  to  coloni/e 
Xewfoundland,  he  determined  to  risk  his  life  and  estate  in 
a  similar  attempt." 


sii.vi'it   sNTi  r -si'ocvx    rNKAiMiii'.n    \t   ii'.I!i:vi.ani). 


:..    1 


His  threes  sons,  Gec"u-e,  David,  and  Philip  were  with  him 
in  Newfoundland  at  the  time  of  his  death.  'I'licy  proI)al)ly 
remained  there  until  tl;e  time  of  the  liestoration  (HillO). 
He  was  buried  at  Ferryhuid,  but  no  vestige  of  his  resl- 
ing-l)lace  can  now  be  found.  The  oldest  tombstones  in 
the  <>ravevards  do  not  reach  bevond  1770.  Jt  is  most 
likely  that  he  was  buried  on  the  peninsula,  and  that  the 
gnive  has  since  disappeared.  riifortunately,  the  nature  ot' 
the  ground  is  a  loose  gravel,  and  it  is  constantly  falling  away 
year  after  year,  so  that  very  little  now  reniiiins  of  the  orig- 
inal establishment.  The  foundations  of  Lord  IJaltiinorc's 
house  are,  however,  still  (luite  recognizable.  In  the  yt'ar 
1880  some  excavations  were  made  and  a  few  relics  unearthed  ; 
among  the  rest  a  silver  snuH'-spoon.  It  beai's  the  letters 
(i.  K.  pricked  upon  it,  —  evidently  the  initials  of  (ieorge 
Kirke.  It  is  now  in  possesslor.  of  Mr.  Carter,  revenue 
officer  atFerrvland.  I  havc^  been  permitted  to  copy  it,  and 
give  here  an  engravimr,  full  si/e. 


i 


OF  NEWFOUNDLAND. 


125 


These  smin'-sj^yins,  now  out  of  fasliion,  excoj)!  in  some  p.'irts 
of  the  Ilii;hl:iii(ld  of  ScoUiuicl,  were  imicli  in  voifue  after  the 
introduction  of  sniiif  iiiid  tobacco  from  \'iri>inia.  Tliey  were 
used  in  connection  with  tlie  lar<>e  pouch,  or  smiir-liorn,  called 
in  Scotland  '^  llie  i^plenchdii."  Sir  Walter  Scott  alludes  to 
it  in  "(iuy  ]\raiiiu'rinii"  (Chap.  L.),  where  Dundy  Dinmont 
oH'crs  the  "siller  in  tlu;  splcuchan."' 

Kirke's  family  remained,  as  stated,  in  Newfoundland  until 
the  ]{estoration  (KlliO).  Upon  the  Kcstorution  jieir  uncio 
Louis  put  in  a  petition  in  their  favor  to  Charles  IT.  ;  hut 
Cecil,  Lord  Baltimore,  then  governor  of  the  ]Marvland 
colony,  also  laid  claim  to  Xewlbundland  under  the  i>rant 
U'iven  to  his  father  hy  .lames  L  Henry  Kirke  st  ronuly  main- 
tains that  the  lialtimores  had  totally  ahandoncnl  tliii  colony 
of  XewfoiuxUand,  ''having'  left  the  plantation  in  no  sort 
provided  for."'  The  urant  was  liiven  to  Sir  David  Kirko  in 
l()iJ7,  and  no  complaint  or  remonstrance  was  made  at  the 
time  hy  the  JJaltimores.  In  the  urant  to  Sir  David  it  is 
especially   stated  :  — 

"  liut  the  sayd  Lord  lialtimore  desiM'tinii"  the  say»l  Plan- 
tation in  his  life  tynie.  and  h-avin^c  the  same  in  noe  sorte 
provided  for,  accordinu'c  to  the  sayd  undertakinu'e,  and  yet 
leavinu.\'  divers  of  our  [)oore  suhji'cts  in  the  sayde  ])rovince 
iivin^ic  without  ( iovernnu'Ut,  the  sayd  Lord  lialtimore  shortly 
aftei'  dyed,  and  Cecile  his  somie  and  heire  apparent  hath 
alsoe  deserted  the  >ay(l  pr(>vinc(>  and  plantation  :  and  also 
Sir  Francis  Uacon  Kniiihie  deceased,  afterwards  Lord 
Alhans,  and  laic  Loi<l  Chaunccllor  of  Enuland  our  citye  of 
London,  and  divi'rs  othci's  to  whom  sexcrall  liraunts  of 
divers  ])arcells  of  Newfoundlande  aforesayd  wei'e  alsoe  hy 
severall  letters  ])atent  formerly  uraunted  ha\('  alsoe  deserted 
the   jjrovince  and  i)lautation." 


It  must,  howevei-,  l)e  remcMuhered  that  the  Baltimonvs  left 
a  ii'ovcrnor  in  l-'crrvland,  and  that,  after  Lord  (ieorji'c's  death, 
Cecil  appointed  ^^'illiam  Hill  iroNcrnor.    "  liut, "says  Ivichard- 


126 


ECCLKSIASTICAL    HISTORY 


son,  "in  l(i37,  while  FiM_i>:Ian(l  was  on  the  brink  of  a  civil 
Avar,  Sir  David  Kirl<e  surreptitiously  obtained  a  pattMit,  and 
the  next  yoar  went  over  and  took  possession  of  the  Island. 
Lord  ]}aUiniore  waited  patiently  until  after  the  restoration  of 
the  Stuarts,  in  l(!<i(),  and  then  reeovered  from  Sir  David's 
heirs  tlu^  houses  and  lands  w  hieh  had  helonired  to  his  father."' 
Whatever  may  h;^  the  ri,i;hts  of  this  eontroversy,  eertain  it  is 
that  King  Charles  II.  issued  a  warrant  to  Sir  Louis  Kirke, 
Elizabeth,  widow  of  Sir  David,  and  his  sons,  Philip,  Georij:e, 

proi)erty 


d  David,   to  deli 


)f  all  th 


up   i)ossessi() 

in  Newfoundland,  as  it  helonii'ed  to  Lord  Baltimore  by 
tlie  grant  of  James  L  to  his  father  (Henry  Kirke,  p. 
18!)). 

From  this  period  till  about  thirty-six  years  subsequently 
(ItJ'JC)),  when  Ferryland  was  taken  by  the  Freneh  (which 
shall  be  deserilted  by  and  by),  we  have  but  veiy  meagre 
accounts  of  the  history  of  Newfoundland.  There  is  an 
account  of  Lord  Falkland,  Lord-Lieutenant  of  Ireland,  hav- 
in<j:  at  this  tinu;  si-nt  out  a  colony  of  Irish  emiu'vants  :  but 
the  polii'y  t)f  non-coloni/ation  on  the  part  of  the  Uritish  mer- 
chants was  all-powerful,  and  bore  down  all  before  it.  To  this 
fatal  cause,  |)rimarily,  we  owe  the  backward  stat(>  of  New- 
foundland, and  the  failure  of  so  many  attem[)ts  to  colonize 
her  shores.  This  policy  of  repression  and  discouragement 
began  in  1()S;»,  its  source  i)eing  the  notorious  Star  Chamber 
(Harvey,  p.  30).  The  English  lishermen  believed  that  it 
"would  be  ruinous  to  their  business  if  the  Ishmd  became  settled 
Avith  a  tixed  and  re^ident  i)o[)uIati()n  ;  hence  s(>vere  and  slrin- 
irent  laws  were  enacted  to  prevent  sui-h  a  catastrophe.  Ship- 
pers were  bound  under  hea\y  [x-nallies  to  bring  back  in  the 
fall  all  the  hands  whom  they  employed  during  the  snnuner. 
"No  master  or  owni'r  of  any  shii)  slioidd  transport  any  per- 
sons to  Newfoundland  who  were  not  of  the  slii[)"s  com[)any, 
or  such  as  were  to  plant  or  settle  there  "  (Knactment  of 
IC'  ).  A  little  later  (KllKi),  at  the  instanciM)f  most  urgent 
petitions,  "  some  settlers  were  allowed  to  remain  during  wintcir 
for  the  preservation  of  boats,      .      .      .     and  the  preparation 


OF  NEWFOUNDLAND. 


12; 


of  stages  for  the  fishery;    but  lliey  should  not  exceed  one 
f//ouscni(V'  (ILirvov,  p.  ;>1). 

A  certain  governor  ofliie  TsImiuI,  Lieuteuiint  Klf'ord,  some 
years  later,  endeavoi'cd  to  earry  out  the  i)rinei|)les  of  St. 
Senanus  l)y  ])revenling  (ni>/  iromen.  front  heliKj  landed  on,  the 
Island.  His  motives,  however,  were  not  exactly  tiie  same 
as  those  which  actuated  the  saintly  ascetic  of  Scattery 
Island.  ICvery  means  svrs  adopted  to  prevent  the  coloniza- 
tion of  the  count rv,  and  to  preserve  the  monoi)oly  of  these 
AVest-country  lishing-masters.  They  represented  the  country 
as  a  barren,  uninhal)itahle  rock  ;  the  climate,  as  an  alternation 
of  fogs,  storms,  and  intense,  unbearable  frosts.  Th(*  country 
was  declared  to  be  only  useful  as  a  mirsery  for  sailors  for 
the  British  navy,  and  to  be,  as  it  were,  a  gigantic  training- 
shi[).  It  is  easy  to  imagine  that  this  baneful  inlluence  clung 
like  a  leaden  clou'  around  the  neck  of  the  vounu:  colonv, 
stranglingall  its  rising  asi)irations,  and  giving  it  a  downward 
tendency  which  it  has  scarcely  been  al)l(^  to  shake  olf  up  to 
this  day,  after  nearly  two  centuries  and  a  half.  Nevertheless, 
ill  si)ite  of  all  this  opposition,  the  colony  made  certain  ste|)s 
in  advancement.  In  the  year  lO/iO  there  were  mor(>  than 
three  hundred  and  lifty  families  permanently  settled  on  the 
coast  in  dillerent  places.  About  this  time  the  French  began 
to  settle  on  the  shores  of  the  irreat  southei'u  bay  of  the 
Island,  to  which,  from  the  name  of  their  capital,  they  gave 
the  name  of  "  Bale  de  Plaisanee,"  hispaniolized  afterwards 
into  "Plaeentia,"  the  history  of  which  we  shall  truce  in  the 
following  chapter. 


128 


ECCLESIASTICAL  HISTORY 


CIIAPTEU  IX. 


AITSSrOXARIES   IN  (VNADA.  -  [1G10-1G70.] 


Plarrritiii  — Drsc'i'iption  of  ."^oUhMiU'iit  liy  Dr.  Mullock  —  FouiuUmI  liy  tlio  Froiicli  loii^' 
Ix'l'oro  l()(iO  —  Doi'iiineiil  fSijiiii'd  liy  Luiiis  \1\', —  .Moiis('i;;iK'iii' do  I^iiviil,  First 
I{i>*Iiop  oC  (Quebec — Mm',  lie  .St.  N'alicr,  Sccoinl  Hisliop  —  Uclciicu  of  the  Jt'siiits — 
Sellloiui'iit  of  Poll,  Royal,  1G11-1."» —  Ai'fivalof  the  Fiaiicispans  at  Qiichec,  1015  — 
Missionary  I^ahois  of  I'ri'c  Ic  Caion  amoiij;  the  Iiulians  —  Iloiiii,  Due  de  Levis, 
liilrodiices  the  .lesiiits  to  Qiiehee,  l(')2(i  —  .lesuits  eeidially  Received  hy  the  I'laiieis- 
Ciiiis  —  Ileiify  Kirlvc's  Staleiiiciil  to  the  ( 'oiilrary  Refuted  —  licli^jioiis  Wilhdiawii 
oil  ('iiptiir.  (if  (^)iiehee  hy  Sir  David  Kiike,  Ki'JD — lesuits  Return  after  Treaty  of 
.St.  (ieriuaiiie  en  I. aye,   l().'i2 — Franciscans  in   l(i70. 

A  UOUT  Ihc  stiinc  time  lluit  the  Kiiiilisli  sctllcniuMit  on  tli(^ 
-^»-  e:isl(«rn  sIku-c  oI'  I  lie  JsImikI  \v:is  undci'tifoiii.U'  tlic  vicis- 
.sitiulcs  niciilioiu'd  ill  the  lust  chapter,  and  was  hciii"^-  claiiiicd 
.'ind  rcclaiiiUMl  liy  diHiTcnt  masters,  ;i  larii'e  and  inipoi'ttuit  set- 
tleniont  was  heinu"  founded  hy  the  Fi'ciieh  on  the  more  west- 
ern jiortion  of  Ili(>  southern  eoast. 

It  is  impossihh^  to  stiy  extictly  when  the  P^-eneh  lirst  orpiii- 
ized  this  settlement,  hut  it  was  jirior  to  1(1(10,  ;is  stated  l)y 
JMonseii,rneur  Tiirireon.  Arehhishop  of  (^iielxH'.  in  a  letter  to 
Dr.  Mullock,  iN.'iS.  ''Previous  to  ICiCO,"  writ(>s  Dr.  Mu\- 
loi'k  (MS.,  \):\<j[i'  1(>),  ''th(!  French  tishermen  who  freijiiented 
Xewfoundhuid  hei^an  to  est.ahlish  the  town  of  PhiciMitia. 
kSitUiited  on  a  ma;j:iiilicent  hay.  IK)  miles  deep  tind  (!()  wide  ;it 
tho  mouth;  studded  with  hundreds  of  islands  tuid  t(>einin<i- 
with  fish:  eniovinix  th(>  adv:inlai;(>  of  a  tine  iiort  etisilv  forti- 
tied,  and  ti  lieach  capable  of  dryinn'  the  li.>h  of  a  thou.sand 
ships  :  a  climate  excmiit  from  fog,  while  the  rest  of  the  bay 
and  the  southern  shore  are  i'retpiently  enveloped  in  it  ;  beau- 
tiful scenery,  ami  two  arms  of  the  seti  which  remind  the 
traveller  of  the  sirrowv  Phone,  —  it  united  in  itself  (^ver\thin<>: 
ni'cessary  for  the  cai)ital  of  !i  tishing  Island,  and  its  natural 
beauties,  fine  cliniiite,  and  picturestjue  scenery  justly  entitled 


OK    NKWrOUNDLAXD. 


129 


i(  to  (lie  iiiiiiic  ^ivcii  it  hy  the  I-'rciicli,  —  I'l.-iisniu'c,  or  IMmccii- 
tiii.  The  trrciit  ruins  ot"  torts  iiiicl  ciistlcs,  which  still  survive 
tht!  v/i('(k  of  time  und  the  luon^  destruclive  I'lipiicity  of  tlio 
luodeni  iuiiiihitaiits,  who  use  the  reniains  of  lh(^  buildings  as 
a  (lUMiiy,  prove  how  well  the  French,  in  tlu;  palmy  days  of 
the  m()uar<hy,  before  the  whoh^  nation  was  corrupted  by  tlio 
example  of  the;  IJep'nt  of  I^ouis  XV.,  and  by  thi^  writi*  'iS  of 
the!  InrKlels  N'oltaire,  liousseau,  I'C-  Co.,  appreciated  this  beau- 
tiful possession.  It  is  reinarUabl(!  that  many  of  tli(!  old  farms 
and  lishinu'-sites  in  the  neiiihborhood  are  still  ludd  mider  tho 
old  French  titles,  tlu!  parchments  bearinir  the  I)old  siiinatiu'o 
of  Louis  le  (irand,  and  countersigned  l)y  his  minister,  Fhely- 
peaux.^ 

When  the  I'^rench  lii'st  took  possession  of  ( 'anada,  or  Xew 
France,  as  all  thc^  northern  j)ortion  of  the  eontinenf  and 
islands  was  then  called,  tlu'  liecnll <'(.•<,  or  Franciscans  of  tho 
strict  ()I)scr\  ance,  accompanied  them  as  chaplains  and  mis- 
sioners  to  the  abori<>-ines.  Established  since  ir)()2  in  tlu; 
Spanish  possessions,  they  commenced  their  labors  in  (anada 
in  1(11').  On  the  2.')lh  .June  of  that  year  the  tlrst  ^Tass  was 
celebrated  in  (Quebec,  and  the  same  year  a  Franciscan  convent 
was  estal)lislicd  there,  which  llourished  till  the  siu'rendi'r  of 
the  city  to  the  English  (l(L'!t). 

It  nas  not  till  thirteen  years  after  tho  foundation  of  this 
convent  —  the  mother  of  all  the  religious  establishnumts  in 
North  America  —  that  any  attcnnit  at  civilization  was  made 
by  the  French  in  Canada,  the  riches  of  the  forest  ai)pearing  to 
them  then  the  only  valuable  pi-oductions  of  the  country  ;  l)ut 
by  degrees  the  country  was  ex[)l<)r(Ml,  and  its  resoiu'ces  were 
better  ai)])reciated.  Among  the  tirst  apostles  of  the  land, 
I'ere  ("aron,  in   (Quebec,  and   Pere  iruet.  at  Tadousac  (Stig- 


'  Til  tlic  Appondiv  wc  ^ivc  a  rerfxi/im  it  liti rutiin  copy  of  oiiu  of  these  ciirioiH  and 
iiitei'cstiiiy  (lociiiiiiMit:?.  It  is  ciifirossotl  on  parcliiiicnt,  in  a  poniliar  Iiaml,  and  aliounds 
inditHcnll  si^^rns  and  aliln'cviritions.  It  is  in  tlio  possession  of  a  family  named  (ireon,  and 
was  in  a  very  soiled  and  damaged  state  when  I  rescued  it  and  hail  it  framed  l)etwuen 
two  sheets  of  k1''^*>  '»  1S78.  I  know  not  its  fate  since,  but  would  I'eeommend  that,  if 
existinj:,  ami  iiureha^alile,  it  should  be  secured  liy  our  Ciovornnient  or  Historical 
{society,  for  the  Mtisenin. 


I 


i 


|l ' 


130 


KCCLESTASTICAI,   IHSTOKV 


iiciiMv),  wluM'c  he  ct'lchrnlcd  \\\e  Hrst  Mass,  in  1  (!!'),  dosorvo 
pMrticiilMr  mention.  Tlu;  Clmivh  of  (^inndM,  or  NCw  France, 
soon  became  (oo  extensive,  and  it  was  too  remote  from  the 
mother-country  to  lie  left  witliout  direct  ej)isco[)al  superin- 
tendence. Up  io  this  period  the  territory  known  as  }\v\y 
France  was  under  the  spirituid  Jurisdiction  of  tlie  Uishoj)  of 
Kouen,  in  Normandy,  thounh  the  Jiishop  of  St.  ^Nlalo  also 
claimed  jurisdiction  over  it. 

Qucibec,  though  founded  in  1008,  was  stiM  little  more  than 
a  fort,  surrounded  hy  a  few  cabins  and  about  twenty  acres 
of  cidlivated  land,  when  it  was  taken  by  the  Fniilish  in  1()20, 
:ind  the  Franciscans  wi>re  s(>nt  home  to  France.  It  wasnottill 
1(>.'>2,  on  its  rt'storation  to  the  French  crown,  that  its  p()|)u- 
lation  bciiau  to  increase,  and  the  spiritual  jurisdiction  was 
separated  from  that  of  the  motluM'-country.  It  was  tirst  con- 
stituted into  a  \"icariato  A|)o>tolie  by  Alexander  VII.,  by  a 
brit'f  e\})(Mlited  the  .5th  July,  1(5.")7,  and  it  was  erected  into  a 
dioccs(!  in  KIT!  by  Clement  X.  The  tirst  IVishop  appointed  to 
govern  these  nortlu'rn  regions  was  Francis  de  Laval  de  Mont- 
morency. IIo  was  one  of  the  high  nobility  of  France,  and  at 
the  time  of  his  apiiointment  he  was  Archdeacon  of  Kvrcux 
and  chaplain  to  the  King.  He  was  consecrated  Uishop  of 
Petrea  in,  jxiy/ifjiis  on  the  8th  December,  the  feast  of  the 
Innnaculaie  Conception  of  the  Blessed  A'irgin,  1(!.')S,  by  the 
Pope's  nuncio,  in  the  Church  of  St.  (Jermain  des  ]*res,  Paris, 
and  landed  inCanada  on  the  IGth  of  Miiy,  1(5')!),  —  the  first 
liishop  of  whom  we  have  any  authentic  account  who  visited 
these  northern  provinces.  In  1()74  he  was  a[)pointed Titular 
Bishop  of  the  newly  erected  Se(>  of  (^uobec  ;  and  lui  conferrcMl 
many  and  most  important  benetits  on  his  See.  He  spent 
,")0,()00  of  his  own  private  fortune  —  an  enormous  sum  in 
those  days  —  in  the  foimdation  of  the  Grand  Seminary  of 
Quebec,  now  the  University  Laval  Montmorency. 

Newfoundland  was  included  in  the  lu^w  diocese,  wdiich 
comprised  all  the  French  i)ossessions  in  Xortli  America ; 
indeed,  the  whole  continent  and  islands  to  the  north  of  the 
Spanish  possessions.     This  island,  the  remotest  eastern  por- 


1 


TS" 


OF   XKWFOl'N'DLAN'l). 


ir,i 


«# 


tion  of  llic  <li()('oso,  tlioMLrli  Iho  nearest  to  France,  xm-y  early 
altraeted  the  attention  of  tlie  liisliopand  missionaries.  In  the 
areliieijiscopal  areliives  of  (^iiel)ec  we  have  sonic  i-nrions 
(loenments  reialivo  to  the  early  stat(^  of  religion  in  New- 
foundland, the  visit  of  Monseiirneur  de  St.  Vailier,  and  the 
estal»li>lnneiit  of  Franciscan  niissioiiiu'ics  in  the  Inland. 

The  venerahh?  liisiiop  Laval,  after  an  ei)iseoi)aey  of 
twenty-six  years  of  tiie  most  n()I)Ie  and  apostolic  labors, 
amon<if  which  may  ho  counted  tlu^  e\  an<r(di/.ation  of  the 
Iro(|uois  and  several  other  Indian  tril)cs;  travc^llini;  tlu'onijjh 
forests  on  snow-slioes,  earryinj;  on  his  bade  his  ])ortal)lo 
altar;  the  estabiislmuMit  of  an  episcopal  seminary  (Idih)); 
the  consecration  of  the  cathedral  (!(!()());  the  aI)olition  of 
the  liipior  trade  ainon^"  th(>  Indians:  the  recall  of  the  Fran- 
ciscans, or  Recollcts  (  KJli'.t)  after  an  altsence  of  n(>arly  forty 
years;  llu^  establishment  of  the  same  in  the  missions  of 
'i'hrce  Ikivcrs.  Isle  Perec,  Kiver  St.flolm,  and  Fronlenac; 
the  encouraii'cment  of  11h>  missions  of  the  Jesuits,  particu- 
larly of  the  Avondrous  voyai^c  of  Father  iNIaninette  down 
the  whole  leniith  of  the  Mississippi  (IIho),  which  pave  to 
France  the  ])ossession  of  all  wesfciai  and  interior  America, 
and  Louisiana  ;  tli(>  canonical  erection  of  the  dioeeso  and 
chai)ter  of  (^ucl)cc  (1(!7())  ;  the  reconstruction  of  th(>  ancient 
eha})(d  of  J^a  lionne  Sfe.  Anne  dc  licau  I'rc,  and  the  au- 
thentic collection  of  the  miracles  of  tiiat  world-renowned 
shrine,  —  after  all  these,  and  many  otlu>r  noI)l(!  works,  the 
venerable  IJishop,  then  past  his  si.\li(>th  year,  beiian  to  feel 
his  strenii'th  failintr,  and  set  out  for  I'^rance  in  It!''^!:  for  the 
])urpose  of  proeurinir  a  coadjutor  and  snccessoi'.  His  choice 
fell  upon  th(\  .\bbi'  Jean  Uaplistc^  St.  \'allier,  a  noble  of 
Dauphinc,  cha[)lain  to  the  Kinii',  Louis  XIV.,  u  man  of  irreat 
piety  and  rare  u'ood  example,  and  distin<>-uislied  at  court  lor 
lii.s  modesty  and  reirularity  of  life.  St.  \'allier  was  sent  out 
at  tirst  to  (Quebec  as  their  Vicar-CTcneral  in  KiS"),  Monseig- 
neur  de  Laval  remaining  in  Fi-ance,  He  (St.  Vallier) 
stayed  two  years  in  Can.ida,  rc'gulating  the  affairs  of  the 
diocese,  und  returned  to  France  in  1GS7,  where  he  wasiconse- 


132 


ECCLESIASTICAL   HISTORY 


1^ 

Mil 


!  1 


oriit<>(I  ill  llio  Cluirch  ;)f'  St.  Sulplco,  P.-iris,  on  tlu>  2")lli  of 
.Tfimuiry,  1(>>»8.  Ihi  cami^  \n\vk  to  (\iu;i(1ji  tin;  .sinic  year, 
Moiisc'iiriH'ur  (1(!  Laval  liavin<r  <rono  soino  inoiillis  licloro, 
not witlislandiiiLr  tlu;  earnest  and  nrircnt  jmrsuasions  of  his 
Cricnds  and  relatives  to  remain  at  lionie.  Liivt^  ap)od  sliep- 
lierd,  \n\  ^\■islled  to  s})end  his  last  tlays  nnionsj  his  laithful 
ilock,  and  lay  down  his  life  in  the  midst  of  them.  lie  died, 
fidl  of  years  and  nuMils,  and  in  the  odor  of  sanctity,  at  tlio 
seminary  of  the  J(\suits,  at  (^uelu'c,  in  the  year  1708.^ 

Allnsion  has  heen  made  more  than  oiu'(>  to  the  dismissid 
of  the  Franeisean  friars  from  (^iiehec  on  tlie  eaptnre  of  llie 
place  I)}'  the  Knii'lish,  and  tlieir  recall  auain  on  its  restoration 
to  the  French  crown.  Althou^di  these  events  caimot  he  said 
to  have  actnidly  a  place  in  the  iiislory  of  the  Catholic  iv\\<f- 
ion  of  Newfonndland,  yet  I  tliink  it  will  not  he  considered 
too  <j:i'eat  a  diuression  to  liivc;  here  a  brief  acconnt  of  these 
early  missionaiy  ell'orts.  It  will  help  the  reader  to  form  a 
correct  estimate  of  c()ntem|)()rary  history,  and  to  compi'e- 
hend  more  clearly  our  own  early  ecclesiastical  state.  The 
first  French  mission  in  Newfonndland,  as  already  mentioned, 
was  founded  by  these  Canatlian  Franciscans,  and  there  has 
always  existiMl  a  cordial  feelinii'  and  a  kind  of  spiritual  allinity 
between  the  Church  of  St.  John's  and  {^uel)ec.  From  the 
time  of  the  discovery  of  the  St.  Lawrenci^  by  Cartier  ( 1 ');]")) 
France  claimed  full  dominion  over  Canada  and  all  countries 
north  of  40^  of  latitude.  Several  companies  Avere  formed, 
and  fortilied  with  am|)le  i)atents  from  the  Kinuf,  irivinsjj 
them  the  viuht  of  the  fur  trade  with  the  Indians.  In 
1578  the  Marqius  de  la  Koclie  received  his  patent  ;  in 
ir)S8  two  ne[)hew,s  of  Cartii'r.  In  1(!()0  Le  Sieur  de  Pont- 
grave,  a  great  navigator  ami  merchant  of  St.  Malo,  .villi 
Captain-  Chauvin,  formed  a  company,  and  recei\-ed  rights 
and  i)rivileges.  After  the  death  of  Chauvin,  Champlain 
became  captain  of  the  Company.  He  made  his  first  voyage 
to   Canada    in  1(!0;}.     After  this  the  Company  fell   to  the 


'  The  "  iu'dccss"    for  the  ciiiioiiization  of  tliis  friv;it  ami  holy  liishop  hiis  bucn 
coiumciicL'il  at  Itoiuc,  aiul  id  now  nudcr  iiivcstig;itioii  by  the  S.  Cony:i'cy:itiou. 


OF  NKWFOUNDLANIJ. 


133 


{^ 


('lmr«ro  of  ]a'  Sicuf  dc  Mollis,  ii  Ciilvinlst,  mikI  a  man  of 
•rrcat  aliilily.  In  KiDCi  Jaiiics  I.,  of  Kn;L''laii<l,  lia<l  liraiilcd  to 
IIk;  \'ir<:iiiia  ( "onipaiiv  (lio  coiinlry  as  far  norlli  as  4.')'^,  thus 
(Microacliinu'  <>ii  llu'  Fi'ciicli  claim,  a  soiirci^  of  fiitiiiH!  dilli- 
cultit's  and  warfare;  hctwccn  the  two  nations.  In  1()01:  tin.' 
colony  of  Port,  Royal,  now  Annapolis,  on  tlu!  Iiai(;  Francai.so, 
now  J»ay  of  Fundy,  was  founded  liy  Dc;  Monts,  Cliamplain, 
licscarhot,  I'outrinconrt,  and  other  distin;ij;uished  French- 
men, Catholics  and  Iluiruenots  ;  and  we  are  also  inforniccl  that 
they  wero  accomi)anie(l  liy  "cleriry  of  the  lust  character,'' 
sent;  l»y  order  of  the  Kiiiij:.  (( Jarneaii,  p.  74.)  The  Uaron 
do  Poutrincourt  was  i^overnor.  The  colony,  harassed  by 
Dutch  marauders  and  opposed  ])y  a  cli(|no  of  merchants 
of  St.  Malo,  was  abandoned  after  thrive  years  (1(107).  Pou- 
trincourt, however,  had  not  triven  u|)  all  hope  of  maintaininij 
the  colony.  IIo  determined  to  return,  after  securini;  sub- 
stantial aid  and  assistance!,  and,  in  reality,  succeeded  in  his 
ellbrts  after  two  years'  ench'avors.  Ilavinj^  concluded  an 
arrangement  with  some  nu'rihants  of  l)iej)[)e,  In;  came  out 
au'ain  to  Port  Royal  in  1(110,  briiiui'ini:' with  him  a  body  of 
colonists,  with  skilled  artisans.  He  l)roniiht  also  a  secular 
[)riest  of  tlu'-  diocese  of  Lanj^fcs,  Le  Sieiu"  Jessr  Fh'clu',  a 
learned  and  virtuous  man,  who  was  sent  out  by  order  of 
Robert  Ubaldini,  Papal  Nuncio.  4'his  was  the  first  evan<»e- 
list  of  New  France,  for  we  have  no  record  of  any  woi-k  done 
by  the  fathers  who  came  out  with  De  ]\Ionts  in  l(i04.  Pcre 
Fleche  was  nnich  lu'lovcd  by  the  ^licmacs,  a:.d  Avas  called 
by  the  French  Le  I\i(n'(irc/te,  —  a  word  which  the  Indians 
softened  into  Padliax,  and  by  which  name  they  designate 
a  priest  at  the  i)resent  day. 

On  the  f(>ast  of  St.  .lohn  (June  24),  KUO,  Pero  Fleche 
had  tl.e  happiness  of  liaptizing  tlie  sagamo,  or  Chief  of  the 
Indians,  Mamliertou,  with  some  twenty-three  or  twenty-four 
of  his  triiie.  Poutrinconit  had  refused  to  take  out  with  him 
to  Port  Royal  the  .Jesuit,  fathers,  oll'ered  to  him  at  the  desir'^ 
of  the  King.  On  this  point  Kirke  (p.  4.'))  sa3's  :  "Poutrin- 
court, though  a  Roman  Catholic,  had  a  great  aversion  to  the 


1; 


il 


I 


134 


ECCLKSIASTICAL   IIISTOHY 


Jesuits,  .  .  .  Mild  Itciii;:-  .'It  It'iinlli  forced  to  tiikc  tliciii, 
j)l;iiiily  (old  tliciu  llicy  must  not  iiicddli^  with  tlic  iiHiiirs  of 
the  cohuiy.""  Tlie  fiict  is,  however,  thus  stilled  hy  (i;inie;iu 
(|).  7S),  !i  very  iuii)!irti:il  wrilcu-:  "His  jiarluers  wert!  either 
IIiil!-ueuots  or  men  who  h:id  i)rejudiees  iiiiMiiist  the  .Tesuits, 
wlioiii  lliey  reii;ir(h'd  as  tiie  nuthors  of  th(>  League  and  the 
inunK'r  of  Ili'iiry  I\'.,nnd  jn-eferred  to  retire  from  the  Cana- 
dian Association  rather  than  to  a(huit  them  into  the  cohuiy." 
'J'hey  (h'chired  that  they  wouhl  achiiit  (he  ( 'apiicins,  ("orihdiers 
(I'ord-liearers,  a.  reformed  l»raiu'h  of  the  ('apueins),  the  Kec- 
oUets,  or  Franeiseans,  hut  not  the  Jesuits  (l'\>rlan(l.  p.  SO). 
"Iiiit,"  says  Ii'Al)l)('  r»rasseur  i\v  I'oiirhonri;'  (p.  2.')),  "tiu? 
fart  is  that  th(^  Iluiiuenots,  who  had  ohtained  for  ihemsehcs 
lilierty  of  conseienee  in  tlie  countries  of  New  I-'rance,  (houuht 
to  monopolize  that  lilierty  for  (heinselves,  and  (o  exclude 
C'atlioiicisiM  ahoirether  from  a  comUry  where  (lii-y  were 
admitted  (o  th(>  profcs-ion  of  their  reliLiion  l»y  urace  or  favor 
of  that  liiierty  which  they  attempted  to  dc|irive  others  of. 
Sw(uu  enemies  of  the  desuits,  (iiey  took  eviu'v  means  to 
exidude  them."' 

Charlevoix,  himself  a  Jesuit,  seems  to  think,  Iiow(>ver,  that 
l'ou(riiicour(  was,  (houuh  "a  very  liones(  man,  and  tronuly 
attached  to  the  Catholic  ndiLrion,  impressed  liy  the  calum- 
nies of  the  pretendcnl  reformers  airniiist  (he  ,lesiii(s,  and  lu': 
was  tlrinly  resolved  not  to  admit  them  (o  Port  K'oyal."' 
"  Champlaiii  also."  says  ( i  a  mean,  "  distrusttMl  the  ,Iesuits,  and 
prclerred  (he  l-'ranciscans,  as  haviuu"  less  political  amliition  ;" 
yet  he  adurts  tlia*:  to  the  flesnits.  afterwards,  he  owed  chietly 
Ills  success  ill  the  colony  of  (^ueltec,  "for  more  than  onc«>  (ht^ 
French  kiiiL's  w(>r(  til)out  to  renounce  (he  colony,  and  each  time 
they  alistaiiied  thc'clVom  chielly  (hroiiMli  relii^ious  motives. 
Ill  (hese  crises  tin-  ,lesiii(s  diriM'tly  in(ereste(l  iu  Canada 
powerfully  seconded  the  founder  of  it."  And  Champlaiii,  in 
ackiiowh^dLTmeiit  of  the>e  services  i'eceive<|  from  the  Jesuit 
fathers,  Icfl  in  his  will  a  porlioii  of  his  (>state  to  (hem. 
l^aiieroft,  a  Froti^stant  writer,  says  (\'ol.  III.)  :  '  Fv(>ry  (ra- 
ditiou  hears  testimony  to  their  (the  riesuits')  worth.     If  they 


OK    NKWFOrNDI-AM). 


135 


had  the  fault  of  a  supcrslitious  ascolicisin,  ihoy  kiunv  how  to 
resist  with  an  tiiicoii(|iu':al)K'  conslaiicv  and  a  deep  cidnuuvss 
of  soul  thi'  horrors  of  a  lil'i-  i)assi'd  cnlircly  in  the  wildcrnt'ss 
of  Canada.  Far  from  all  (hat  lends  :i  charui  to  life,  far  from 
every  oeeasion  ol'  vainu'lory,  lliey  were  totally  dea<l  to  the 
\vor!(l,  ami  found  in  I  heir  inmost  I'onsc-ienee  a  jx'at'e  that 
uolhinii"  eould  disturl)." 

In  the  "  Relations  (U*s  Jesniles  "  t'or  the  year  Kill,  writleii 
by  I'ere  Uaiard,  it  is  stated  that  I'outrineourt  had  no  oI)jeetiou 
on  his  own  part  to  hrinjr  out  the  flesuils.  On  the  eontrary, 
M.  lu)l)in.  nierehant  of  DieiJjx',  and  uianau'c'r  dl"  the  (\)nii)any, 
said,  "  (^>ll'l'/  sanidi/  a.^sc;:  (jitc  Iv  /Siciir  dc  I'n/i-/iicniirt  iSe 
scutirolt  fort  hoiiori  dc  Irs  mtoir  <ni/)r(S  dc  so//  "'  (that  hc^  knew 
Avell  that  Monsieni'  Poutrineourt  would  fetd  hiinselt"  highly 
honoi'i-d  l)y  havinii'  thiMU  (the  desuiis)  with  him).  All 
the  delay  and  ohslruetion  is  attrilmlt'd  to  the  merehants  of 
Dieppe,  who  swore  llieir  liiiiiiest  oath  {Iciir  j)l((s  //(tiif  j'nroii) 
that  if  the  Jesuits  entered  the  shi}»s  they  would  put  uothiuir 
into  them. 

?..adanu'  the  .Marehioiu'ss  (h>  ( Juereheville,  a  lady  ol'  ir'-eat 
wi'alth,  hiuh  in  the  favor  of  (^uiu-n  Mary  de  Medieis,  and 
zealous  for  the  spread  of  the  i:'os|)el  in  savaii'e  eoimtries,  heeame 
iiidiiiuant  at  these  delays,  and  dcelared  herscdl'the  i)r()teet  ress 
of  the  Jesuits.  She  hoULlhl  oiit  the  claims  of  the  llm:uenot 
nu'rchants,  and  raised  amonu'  the  noliles  at  court  the  sum  of 
t  weiity  thousand  I'rancs,  besides  >aeriliciuij:  a  tarii'e  portion 
of  her  own  fortune. 

She  e(|uipped  the  expedition,  and  sent  cnit  Pomrincourl, 
having'  on  hoard  the  I'^athers  I'iiU'ri'  r)aiard  and  I'aimond 
Masse,  'i'hey  left  Dieppe  llu^  :.'i>th  of  rlanuary,  1(111,  and 
after  a  loui;'  voyaiie  arrived  at  Port  Koyal  on  Peut(>eost  Sun- 
day, 2"_M  of  ,)une.  ( )tl  their  voyau'e  out  they  encountered 
vast  lii'lds  of  iiH'  and  eoimtless  ieelteriis.  "  These  ice  lields 
were  monstrous,  for  in  souu^  places  tlu^  sea  was  all  eonvered 
with  them  as  far  as  tlu>  eyt^  eould  reach  ;  and  in  order  to 
pass  throuii'h  them  it  was  necessar\  to  hreak  them  with  bars 
and  prizes  (ducc  Inirrcs  cf  k'li/crs)  placed  Jlil;aint^t  the  beak  or 


IBWWWW 


i-i;i 


I 


1.3G 


ECCLESIASTICAL   HISTORY 


stcMii  (aux  escobiUes)  of  the  ship.  Jii  soiiio  phiccs  high  aiul 
prodigious  mountiiiiis  of  ice  appofired  30  to  40  fathoms  wide 
and  l)ig  as  if  yoii  wore  to  join  nuiny  castles  together  (c/iafeiix), 
and  as  you  woidd  say  if  tlie  Chureli  of  Notre  Dame  of  Paris 
with  a  part  of  its  Ish'  and  houses  and  Pahiees  wt'nt  floating 
on  the  water. "'  —  IMafions  des  Jesuiles. 

For  nearly  throe  years  the  new  colony  thrived  wonderfully. 
Numerous  conversions  were  made  among  the  Algon(|uins 
and  the  Ahenaquis.  But  in  l()i;>  it  was  attacked  and  t  M[)t- 
ured  1>y  Argall,  an  Knglish  captain  from  Virginia.  .V  Jesuit 
lay  brother  (DuThet)  was  shot;  Father  Uaiard  was  taken 
prisoner  and  sent  home  to  France,  Avhere  he;  died  in  1))22. 
This  was  the  end  of  the  iirst  Jesuit  mission  in  Actidia. 

In  1(11.")  C'liami)lain  found  himself  in  a  position  to  i)ut  into 
execution  his  long-cherished  desire  of  bringing  out  tiie 
Framiscans.  He  ai)plied  to  Le  Sieur  Ilouel,  secretary  of 
the  King,  a  man  of  great  piety,  who  inuncdiatcly  inti-rcsted 
himself  in  the  project,  and  communicated  with  l'cr(>  (iarnii>r, 
the  I'rovincial  of  iSt.  Hcnis'  convent  of  Kecollets  —  for  so  the 
Franciscans  an^  called  in  France.  On  hearing  of  the  request 
all  the  fathers  consented  to  go  on  the  mission.  The  following 
were  chosen:  Frs.  Denis  Jamay,  John  D'{)ll)eaul,  Josei)h 
le  C'aron,  and  Brother  Pacili(|Ut'  de  Plessis.  They  left 
Ilonlleur  on  the  2  tth  April,  Id  if),  at  ;">  P. INT.,  in  tin;  good 
ship  "Ktienne,*'  .").')()  tons,  ('ai)tai'i  Pontgrave,  and  arrix'cd  at 
Tadoussac,  mouth  of  the  Saguenay,  on  the  2r)th  of  May. 
There  they  remained  two  days,  re  paired  shij),  took  :;i  water, 
and  started  for  (^iiel)ec,  where  tlu-y  arrived  on  the  2d  of 
June.  The  first  Mass  was  celel)rated  on  fin;  2tth  of  ,)une, 
in  the  presence  of  all  the  Indians.  In  the  year  KU-'^  their 
ranks  were  ivcruited  by  the  arrival  of  Pere  Paul  iluet. 

The  mission  was  now  well  established,  and  made  great 
progress,  until  unfortunately  it  was  again  broken  ixyt  by  the 
capture  of  (^lujbee  by  Sir  David  Kirke  iu  li!21l.  During 
these  fourteen  years  great  work  was  done  by  the  Fi'anciscans. 
They  founded  a  cha[)el  on  the  spot  now  occupied  by  the 
Cathedral  of  (Quebec.     Father  le  Caron  i)enetrated  the  lands 


t 


4, 


I, 


OF    NEWFOUNDLAND. 


137 


of  llie  Moliiinks  iiiul  the  "Wyaiulot.s.  lie  made  inunensc 
journevs  in  canoes  and  on  foot,  and  finally  reaehed  as  far  as 
T^aki'  Huron  and  Xiaiiara.  In  the  year  1(124,  Henri  do  Levis, 
Due  de  \'enlador,  became  Viceroy  of  Canada.  He  was  an 
ardent  protector  of  the  fFesuits,  and  took  Holy  Orders  him- 
self, and  introduced  the  fathers  in  the  3'ear  1(!2(). 

The  introduction  of  tlu>  Jesuits  into  Canada  was,  as  miirht 
be  expectecl,  the  siuinal  for  a  new  onslauiiht  on  that  mueh- 
abused  Society,  :ind  another  series  of  false  statements.  Tlu'se 
may  bi'  summed  up  in  the  foUowinif  extract  from  Kirki^  (j). 
4!t);  "He"  (Due  de  A'enlador)  "sent  Jesuits  to  Canada. 
This  was  a  i^reat  mortification  to  the  IJecollets,  so  that  in- 
cessant bickerinirs  and  (juarrcls  arose  bctwt'cn  them  and  the 
Roman  Catholics."  This  statement  is  contrary  to  tact ,  as  testi- 
lied  to  I)y  all  historians  of  Canada.  Dr.  ^lullock  (p.  l.S)says: 
"The  Jesuits  came  under  the  protection  of  tlu;  Didie  of  Levi, 
and  were  hospitably  received  by  the  lit'coUets,  in  their 
ni'U  ly-established  convent  of  8t.  Mary  of  the  Auii'els,  at 
(Quebec.  The  lield  was  vast  enough  for  all,  and  laborers  ot 
every  Institute  were  welcome." 

Abbr  lirasseur  de  Hourbourg  (page  32)  says:  — 

"  AVith  that  sure  penetration  which  has  more  than  once 
enabled  the  sons  of  Ignatius  to  see  into  tli(>  future,  they 
understood  at  a  glance  the  importance  which  Canada  was 
destined  to  \h\  for  France.  .  .  .  The  Hecollets  of  the 
little  monastery  of  Notre  Dame  des  Anges  olfered  to  tlu'ui 
on  their  arrival  the  most  cordial  welcome,  and  continued,  as 
long  as  (he  Jesuits  re(iuired  it,  to  give  them  a  hosi)itality 
the  most  generous  and  fraternal." 

Not  only  were  (he  Jesuits  welcomecl  by  (he  Franciscans, 
but  we  learn  from  Al»bc  Ferland  (p.  21  1),  who  (juotes 
from  ollicial  documents,  that  (he  Franciscans  actually  asked 
foi'  (he  as-;istance  of  tlu;  fle-<uits  in  their  \astly  growing 
missions.  "In  the  meantime  the  Kecollets  saw  that  it  would 
bo  necessary  for  (hem  (o  secure  new  laborers.  .  .  .  TlH>y 
concluded  to  apply  (o  some  religious  connnuni(y  which 
possessed  more  means  than  tlu'y   {f/ni  Joui.'^miciU  de  necoiirs 


?! 


ft''- 


^1 
11 

ill 


■^^ 


i;)8 


ECCLESIASTICAL  IIISTOIIY 


¥ 


pins  ahoudanlx).  They  llierei'oro  (lulcnniiiod  to  soiul  to 
Franco  to  make  the  proposal  to  the  Jesuits,"'  whom  they 
thought  the  l)est  suited  {Jcs  pJns  proj)!^^)  for  tiie  rude 
missions  of  Canada.  They  sent  one  ol'  tluir  fathers  (Pero 
Piat)  to  Franco  on  this  mission.  "'V\w  Uecollets  and  the 
Jesuits  worked  touether  in  many  missions  in  tiie  most  perfect 
liarmony  (arec  unc  cnfenfc  fotife  cord/dlc)." 

The  l)ickerin;j;  and  (juarrels  referred  to  by  Kirki'  were  not 
between  the  Jesuits  and  Franciscans,  but  bcitween  th(>  mer- 
cliaiits  and  the  latter;  and  are  thus  explained  by  (Jarneau 
([1.  It")):  "Father  IreiKvus  le  Piat,  O.S  F.,  pivc!  an  in\  i- 
tation  thither  to  a  few  ,Iesuits.  The  'associated  merchants' 
at  iirst  would  not  sanction  the  proceedinn".  They  set  out 
for  Canada  notwithstandini:' ;  but  when  they  reached  (^uebi'c 
they  "Were  not  i)ermitted  to  land  till  the  IJecollets  should 
find  Iheni  a  i)erinaneiit  asyliuu  in  the  infant  city."  "The 
ii'reater  part  of  these;  nuM'chants,"  ^^ays  Ferland,  "were 
Ilnii'ueiiots,  and  they  had  no  a'reat  love  i'or  reliiiious  Orders. 
They  tolerated,  indeed,  the  poor  K'ecollets,  but  they  looked 
with  a  sinister  eye  (^iii'iiirdis  ciiuU)  on  the  cominii'  of  the 
Jesuits,  who  had  i)owerful  friends  at  court." 

For  two  years  they  lived  under  one  roof  with  the  I"'ran- 
ciscans  inoi)erfect  accord  {(Inns  la  //ici/fenre  iii/c/l/'i/c/icc) ,  till 
in  ]March,  llli'O,  they  reci'ived  a  plot  of  ground  near  the 
river  St.  Charles.  They  innne(liately  connnenced  their 
missionary  work,  and  also  to  teach  the  Indians  to  cultivate 
the  land.  Their  apostolic  labors  amonu'  the  Indian  trilies  of 
Upi)er  Canada  for  three  years  form  a  beautiful  and  touching 
chai)ter  in  the  hi>t()ry  of  that  country,  but  are  outside  of  our 
present  scope.  We  have  seen  that  in  1(!2I>  (Quebec  was 
capfureil  by  Sir  David  Kirki',  the  religious  all  .>ent  lionu', 
and  Canada  poss(>ssed  by  the  Fnglish  till  the  treaty  of  St. 
Gerniain-cMi-Laye  in  ]i')'.)-2.  On  the  return  of  the  French  to 
Canada  it  was  decided  by  the  minister.  Cardinal  Kichelieu, 
with  the  consent  of  the  (ienei'al  of  the;  Capucins,  that  the 
Jesuits  only  should  return  to  (Quebec,  as  tin;  country  was 
not  yet  abhi  to  suj)i)ort  a  mendicant  Order.     The  KecoUets, 


'  I 


L 


s 


OF   NEWFOUNDLAND. 


139 


11 


L 


however,  were  piu'iiiitlctl  to  roliini  to  tlicir  mission  of  Holy 
Cross,  ill  At'!i(liii.  The  (":ii)uciiis  estjihlislied  tlieiiiselvcs  on 
the  hunks  of  the  Kennclx'c  and  the  T;nil!iu'onet  or  IVnohscot 
river,  ilu'y  had  expcH'ted  to  he  al>le  to  tak((  [xjssession  of 
their  mission  in  (^ueljec,  and,  intU-ed,  had  o!)tained  {)ermis- 
sion  of  C'ardinal  Kiehelieu  to  return,  hut  ohjcctions  were 
made  hy  the  ''C'oni})any  of  tiie  Ihnuh'ed  Assoeiates,''  on  the 
j^rounds  that  tlie  inlrochu'tion  of  two  Orders  in  :i  eountry 
where  tliere  was  as  yet  no  IVishop  niiuiit  eausc;  some  jealousies 
()!•  diliieuhies.  The  eeeh'siastieal  authorities  therefore  with- 
drew tile  |)ernnssion  from  tlu^  Ivccoliets.  'I'hey  were  greatly 
arieved  not  t<»  he  allowed  to  continue  their  apostolic  lahor.s, 
and  to  leav(r  tlieir  Jiones  in  the  country  where  they  had  first 
})lanted  the  C'ro^s,  and  which  they  had  moistened  with  their 
sweat.  Such  chaj^riu  was  felt  hy  the  n()I)le  Father  le  Caron, 
the  first  apostle  of  the  Ilurons,  that  he  fell  sick,  and  died 
March  :.".),  H\:\-2. 

The  desire  to  return  to  their  mis>ion  was  always  cherished 
hy  these  li'ood  fathei's  ;  I)ut  it  was  lutt  until  after  a  patient 
exi)ectati()ii  of  nearly  foi'ty  years  that  their  wishes  wei'e 
realized.  In  the  year  1()70  ^l.  Talon,  IntcMidaiit  of  (^uehee, 
hy  his  inlhience  ohlained  tin  order  from  the  Kiiii:",  Louis  XIV., 
for  their  restoration.  lie  hrouiiht  out  with  him  I'ere  Allard 
and  three  others,  and  they  were  rei'stahlished  in  all  their 
former  rights  and  jiossessions,  their  houses  and  lands,  on  tlu^ 
hanks  of  the  ri\er  St.  Charles.  They  were  received  with 
the  most  cordial  welcoiue  l»y  the  desuits.  Pere  le  Mercier, 
iS.fl.,  thus  speaks  of  their  arri\al  ["  Jichi/to)is  lies  Jesni/cs,'^ 
All.  UhO)  :  — 

"  lii's  IJevereiid  Peres  Recollets  tpiM  (Talon)  a  anienc/  di; 
France,  c(^miue  un  nouveau  secours  de  ^Nlissiomiaircs  pour 
eultiver  celle  I^nTise  nous  out  domic  mi  surcroy  dv.  joye  et 
de  ( "onsolalion  ;  nous  les  axons  receus  conmie  les  j)remiers 
A[)ostres  de  ce  ])ais,  et  tons  les  hahitans  di'  (Juehec;  ])onr 
reeomioistre  roliliijation  (|ue  leur  a  la  coloni(!  Francoise  (pie 
ils  out  aeeompagiiee   dans   son   premier  etablissemeiit ;    out 


140 


ECCLESIASTICAL  IIISTOllY 


oste  ravis  do  rcvoir  ccs  bons  roliii'ioux  cstahlis  au  mosmc  lieu 
ou  ils  (loinouraicMit  il  y  a  ])liis  do  ([iiaranto  Ans." 

"The  R(!ver(MKl  I'raiK'i.scaii  Fathers  wlioiii  lie  (Taloii)  has 
brouu'lit  out  from  Franco,  as  a  new  help  to  the  missionaries 
to  eultivatc  this  church,  have  given  to  us  an  ineroaso  of  joy 
and  consolation.  We  have  received  them  as  the  first  ai)os- 
tles  of  this  country,  and  all  the  inhal)itants  of  (Quebec,  in 
order  to  acknowlediie  the  obligation  which  the  French  col- 
ony owes  to  them,  whom  they  accompanied  on  their  tirst 
establishment,  have?  been  rejoiced  to  see  again  those  good 
religious  settled  down  in  the  same  place  where  they  had 
dwelt  some  forty  years  before." 

After  this  ingeimous  and  cordial  welcome  it  can  scarcely 
1)0  maintained  by  Protestant  writers  that  any  jealousies  inter- 
vened between  these  two  reliuious  orders. 


OF   NEWFOUNDLAND. 


141 


m 


CHAPTER  X. 


PLACEN  iTA.—  [lfiG0-lG96.] 

Exti-nt  of  the  Diocese  of  Qiicl)ce  —  M<rr.  do  St.  Viilli.n-  Visits  riiicentiii,  IflSO,  and 
roiiiuls  a  Friincisciiu  Convent  tlioro  —  Troubled  Slate  of  Ncwlbimdland  —  En- 
croai'liincnts  of  the  French  —  Ohstrnetion  Policy  of  Kn^hiiid  —  I'lacentia  Attacked 
nn-iiicccssfidly  liy  ('oiuMiodoin  Williams  —  St.  .fohn's  Attacked  by  the  I'reiich, 
ICiOl  —  Tlie  Whole  Inland,  evccpt  Carliineers"  and  lionavi^la,  (iipliircd  liy  I)'!ber- 
villc,  109G — •(iraphie  AiM'oiint  of  this  K\)ie(lition  by  Sicur  liaudouin,  Military 
Chaplain  —  Capture  of  Fcriyland,  Hay  Ihills,  Petty  Harbor,  SI.  .Folin's, 'J'orl  ay, 
Kcnvidi  [Qiiidividi],  Portujral  C<>' c,  Harbor  Men  [Maine],  ]}ri;:uc  [I?ri;i;ns] ,  Car- 
boiuiii  re,  Havre  de  (iraec,  Havre  Content,  Hay  Vcr,  Xicii  Perlican,  etc.  —  Final 
Decadence  of  French  I'ower  in  the  Western  World. 


,4  T  the  time  that  the  niaiiiiironHMit  of  ccclesiastictil  atTairs 
-^*-  ill  Canada  was  assiiiuod  hy  the  energetic  and  ze.alous 
Monseigneurde  St.  N  allier,  Fr.anee  was  the  gretitest  European 
power  in  tlie  New  AVorld.  Her  dominion  extended  in  the 
north  and  east  over  till  Aetiditi,  Newfoiindhmd  (except  ji 
sm.'dl  portion  ot"  tlie  eastern  sealioard),  liiibrador,  as  I'ar  iis 
Hudson's  Bay.  Towtirds  the  south-east  Iter  hanner  waved 
over  h:df  of  the  States  of  Maine,  Vermont,  :ind  New  York, 
iind  in  tlie  AVcst  over  till  the  vast  valley  of  the  Mississippi, 
Texas,  :ind  Ivio  (iiande.  In  the  north-west  she  had  pushed 
her  seltleiiients  as  far  sis  Niiiiitira  :ind  the  shores  of  the  i:reat 
lakes;  from  Port  Xelsoii,  in  Hudson's  Day,  to  the  (Julf  of 
jNIexieo.  Such  wtis  tin;  vtist  territory  then  claimed  1)y  the 
French  kinii",  !iiid  such  .also  the  extent  of  the  diocese  ove; 
M  Inch  Monscio'iieur  de  St.  \'allier  exercised  his  spiritiuil  juris- 
diction. AVheii  he  l)elield  the  vast  field  of  his  fuiure  hihors 
he  Avjis  anxious  to  seek  out  c()r)periitors,  tind  accordlr'uiy  the 
^ear  after  his  .'irrivtil  in  his  diocese  he  determined  to  visii 
Newfoundland  and  esttililisli  a  Friincisctui  convent  at  Phicenlia, 
the  then  ctipittil  of  the  Ishmd.  Aecordinuly  he  published  a 
ritaii(h/)ti(!ii(,  directed  to  the  unarditin  of  the  Er:uicisc:ins  in 
Quebec,  calling  on  the  brethren  of  that  convent  to  tissist  hiiu 


I 


r-'MBriMM 


I    1 
i 


142 


ECCLKSIASTICAL   HISTORY 


!  1 

( 


ill  Ills  apostolic  l:ii)ors.  It  appears  hy  tliis  (lociiiucnt  that  a 
Catholic  chiircii  was  ah'cady  hiiilt  in  IdHD  in  IMaccntia,  and 
that  a  priest,  tlioiiuli  iie\ cr  reiriihirly  liuUieti'd  as  cure,  olli- 
ciated  th(;rc.     Tlie  mandemeiil  is  as  follows  :  — 


i 


t'\'m' 


fi 


John,  etc. 

"To  Our  helovi'd  l)rethfen  Seraphin  (leoruien,  guardian  of 
tlu^  Convent  of  Kecollets,  of  Our  Lady  of  the  Angels  at 
(Quebec  and  to  tile  Ih'etheren  of  tlie  Coininniiily  destined  us 
jNIissionaries  to  tlie  Island  of  Xewfound  Land  Health  and 
Beiiedii'tion  in  the  F^orcL 

"  ^Vhereas  heiiiii"  ahoiit  in  a  W'W  days  to  visit  in  p(>rson,  as 
l)elits  oui"  jiastoial  solicitude  the  most  remote  jiortion  of  Our 
L)io  '"se,  os[)ecially  tlu^  Island  called  Newfound  Land  con- 
sultin^'  for  'he  sal\atioii  and  spiritual  ])rotit  as  well  of  the 
inhahitants  there  of.  as  of  those  who  come  there  every  }'ear. 
"\Vc  have  proposed  to  take  you  also  with  us  as  the  com- 
panions of  our  travels  and  our  labors  -with  tlu^  Intention  that 
in  the  town  commonly  called  Placentia  you  may  have  a  hos- 
pice or  even  a  convent  the  better  to  facilitate  your  laltors  for 
the  salvation  of  the  iiihaliitants  of  that  place,  and  wiuu-eas  for 
the  cstaltlishiueiit  of  a  hospice  or  convent  the  license  of  the 
Bishop  and  the  Kiiii^  are  re(|uired  and  you  have  humlily  ])()s- 
tulated  for  both,  we  therefore  wisliiiii>'  to  favor  your  prayers 
and  desires,  as  far  as  tlu'  Kpisco|)al  license  is  re(|uire(l,  most 
fully  and  as  far  as  in  I's  lies,  irrevocalily  <irant  tlu;  same  to 
vou  willinulv  bv  tlies(>  present  letters  :  so  that  on  receipt  of 
them  U'(!  allow  you  to  erect  in  the  said  town  a  hospice  or 
even  a  Convent  with  whatever  means  an;  furnished  by  pious 
jiersons  :  there  to  exerci>e  the  usual  diiti(vs  of  your  Order. 
The  Cha))el  also  which  has  been  consin-rated  to  (Jod  in  the 
said  town  :  the  sacred  v(^ss(ds  destineil  for  Divine  ^Vorship, 
and  the  Ecclesiastical  Vestments  which  shall  !>(>  in  the  said 
Chapel  at  the  tinu;  of  our  ^'isitation  shall  beloni;'  to  you 
there  biiiiu;-  and  re>idin,ii',  as  far  as  the  statutes  of  your  Order 
allow  and  Wv  can  (Iraiit  Ihem.  It  is  Our  Will  also  that  you 
dischar<ie  the  duties  of  the  ^lission  to  the  faithtui  and  towards 


1  ! 


I. 


I 


X 


OF    NHWKOrNDLAM). 


I4;i 


lli(i  uiibolicvors  ill  the  s.-iid  lowii,  iiiid  olhor  placos  iuljarcnt, 
hnvin<j^  first  however  rccicivcMl,  as  is  iiroprr.  the  Approhalioii 
of  Us,  or  of  our  Vicar  (icMicial.  I(  is  Our  desire!  likewise 
dial  liiis  Our  license  should  l)e  availal)le  to  you  in  OnUu'  to 
Olilaiii  the  Koyal  License  which  we  hope  will  1)e  easily  oh- 
laiiied  from  His  .Most  Christian  Majestv.  W\i  jiraut  tiio 
aforesaid  license  to  you  with  tiie  nirnu'inent  and  condilion, 
that  you  will  he  always  residy  lo  dischar<^e  llie  duties  ot'  the 
Mission  in  the  aforesaid  jilaces,  either  hy  your  selves  or  I>y 
other  Reliiiious  of  vour  Order,  to  he  deputed  hvtho  liuardian 
or  other  superior  of  tho  (\)nvent  of  Our  Lady  of  vVnii'cls  at 
(^uel)ec,  who  shall  lirstofall  1)e  ol)li;i'ed  to  ohtainOui  A[)pro- 
Itation  or  that  of  Our  \'icar  (Jeneral.  licsides,  since  it  is 
Our  intention  to  assist  you  in  the  ^^'o^k  so  (\)iiduci\e  to  liic 
Salvation  of  Souls,  ^^^•  \v.\\i'.  doired  That  tho  Parish  either 
already  erected  in  the  said  town,  or  to  bo  erected  by  Fs, 
sinco  iho  Care  of  it  has  hitherto  been  entrusted  to  some 
pastor  not  tlxed,  as  not  Itciiin'  installed  by  L^s,  or  by  Our 
Illustrious  I'r(>decessor,  lie  united  and  attrilmtt'd  to  Your 
Order  as  far  as  in  Is  lies,  and  by  these  i)resent  letters  A\'e 
unite  it  in  fact  and  foi"  ever  decree  it  to  be  united,  on  con- 
dition that  tlu!  Supreme  Pontilf  Authorise  it,  and  on  con- 
dition also  that  the  Care  of  it  lie  depiite(l  to  one  individual 
sidccted  from  aniouiz'  the  Keiiiiious  who  dwell  in  said  Hospice 
or  Convent,  apitroxcd  of  by  I's  or  by  Our  \'icar  General 
presented  or  reconinieiidcd  by  the  I-'allier  (luardian,  or  other 
Superior  of  the  CoiiNcnt  of  ( )ur  Lady  ot"  Anu'cls  of  (Quebec 
without  h'sion  however  to  the  Authority  of  tlu!  said  Guai'dian 
over  his  subjects.  Dcsiriiij;"  also  that  the  Koyal  Bounties,  and 
other  Charital)lo  donations  be  conferi'cd  on  you,  and  ji'i'antini;' 
to  you  also  all  dues  tithes,  and  ofleriniis.  In  I'aith  whereof 
these  present  L(>tters,  siizned  l»y  Oui'  hand,  sealed  with  Our 
Seal  and  Countersigned  by  Our  Secretary  W'v  have  given  to 
you. 

"JOHX,  IJis/foji  of  Quebec. 


"  QrEDKC  one  tlioiisiiiul  kIx  luiiulrL'd  and 
elghty-nlno  the  'JU  duy  of  the  Muuth 
of  April," 


'l>j 


:■"':"■  ■■,'-Tr?P"^"r 


i,M 


I 


144 


ECCLESIASTICAL   IIISTUUY 


TIk^  royal  license  alluded  lo  in  Die  forejioiiiij  document 
was  not  obtained  until  some  three  years  al'h-r  (  Ki'.':^),  owiiiii' 
])rolial»ly  to  dillieulty  of  eonnnunicalion,  lliouLdi  it  is  most 
|)rolial)le  lliat  the  mission  was  eslahlislied  at  once  on  j)re- 
suniption  of  llie  Kinii's  ae(iniescence.  From  this  document 
y\o  also  tlnd  thai  a  clun-cli  or  a  chapel  already  existed  in  IMa- 
et'ntia  ])revi()us  to  JdiSD,  and  was  fiunishcd  with  re<|in"sites 
for  diviui!  worship,  though  lher(^  was  not  a  fixed  ))astor; 
but  })robably  one  of  the  naval  or  Military  chaplMiiis  oili- 
ciated  there.  Dr.  Mullock  (Ijcetures,  p.  ],'>)  says  "the  con- 
vent and  church  of  tin;  Franciscans  wer(>  established  on  the 
site  now  occupied  by  the  Protestant  church  and  burial- 
ground.  .  .  .  Most  of  the  French  tombstones  were  taken 
by  the  English  .settlers  after  tin;  surrender  of  tlic^  place  by 
Franc(Mii  1713  and  applied  to  the  ii:iiomiiiious  jjiirpose  of 
liearlhstones  and  door-ste})s."'  Two  or  tln'ce  of  these,  old 
nioniinieiits  have  escai)ed  the  ruthless  hands  of  the  destroyer, 
and  have  been  lat(dv  earefiilly  i)Iaced  in  the  church.  The 
oldest  dates  we  tind  are  l(!i)4aud  1(!7().  They  are  very  much 
nmtilated,  and  can  with  ditliculty  bo  decipIuM'cd.  The  lan- 
guage is  distinctly  Latin  and  French,  though  one  or  two 
words  on  oiu^  stoiui  are  uiiiiitelligil)le.  'i'licy  have  lately 
been  pronounced  by  an  ex[)crt  of  the  liritish  Museum  lo  be 
in  the  l)as(|ue  language.  It  may  be  so,  or  it  may  be  that 
they  form  but  broken  parts  of  Latin  words.  I  give  fac- 
similes of  soiiic  of  the  most  ancient  stones,  taken  from  the 
originals  with  great  care. 

\n  a  letter  of  Monsoigneur  Turgcon,  Archbishop  of  Quebec, 
written  to  Dr.  ?dullock  in  l.sr)S,  his  (irace  says:  "Thesis 
fathers  (the  Franciscans)  will  probably  have  been  the  tirst 
resident  missionaries,  although  the  French  establishments 
were  much  more  ancient,  andextemlfar  Ix'yond  KJliO  ;  but  at 
the  time  of  the  siege  (K^iMi)  Charlevoix  confesses  that  the 
French  were  not  less  deprived  of  spiritual  than  of  temporal 
succor  (Vol.  IL,  p.  18()),  which  leads  us  to  believe  with  rea- 
son that  the  foundation  of  the  mission  was  not  much  anterior 
to  that  epoch.     However,  we  cannot  find  anything  in  our  rec- 


\ 


OF   Xi:\VFOUNDLANI). 


145 


mi' Ail  A 

vs  Ami© 


jJHONN'EVK<G'  MofJ 
.4VIV/1  IMT« iA « C7I  (v K \tRE\ 


^ 


EMI.T 


AiN"£<'3)X'r/^r(;iA'ri:'' 
DV'RoV         I 

/6      *     <?'^^ 


I'AC-SLMILKS    OK    OI.U    TOMBSTOXKS    AT    I'LACEXTU. 


146 


KCCLKSIASTICAL    lIISTOliY 


ords  more  nncirnl  tlum  llu-sc  IcUcm's  ;  "  i.e.,  t!i;it  ot"  liislioj)  de 
St.  ^'!llli(M•,  previously  oivcii,  mikI  tli:it  of"  ihc  Kiiiu',  JiOiiis 
Xn'.,  iiiviiiii' the  roviil  sauction  mikI  ncciisc  lor  the  Ibiindalioii, 
whieli  is  (lalcd  l(j'.t2,  iuul  is  as  follows:  — 


li 


"l()!^2.  Louis,  1)3'  the  u'racc^  of  God,  KiuLi'  of  l-'ranco  and 
Navai'iv,  to  all   pvi-sout   and   to  ('oui(\      Health  : 

'■  Our  i)('lov(Ml  and  faithful  Couuscllor  the  Loi'd  Ilishoj)  of 
(^ut'lxH'  has  uiadc  know  n  to  us  that  a  Conxcnt  of  lu'iiviious 
KtH'oUots  of  the  Order  of  Francis  l)cini:'  in  existence  at 
(Jue])ec.  he  would  dispose  a  uund)er  of  said  licliu'ious  in 
Aarious  localities  of  New  l''i'ance,  \\w  Island  of  Newfound- 
land and  other  parts  of   North   America.      And  particulaily 


\\\ 


Mont 


real 


acentia    an( 


1    the    Island    of    St.    I'et 


er,   an( 


the  inhal)itants  of  those  places  iniiiht  ha\(>  iVoni  the  said 
KeliLl-ious,  all  the  spiritual  siiccoui's  which  niiaiit  he  expected 
from  their  zeal  and  piety,  ami  he  is  desirous  of  liivinu'  a  fix- 
ity to  their  estahlisliments  in  the  said  ])lac"s  that  they  may 
he  more  and  more  attached  to  the  Missions,  and  other  func- 
tions to  which  they  appl^  liomselves.  For  this  reason  wo 
ha\('  perinitteil  and  pei'niit  the  said  IJecollets  to  continue 
their  l^>tal»li>hments.  as  well  in  the  said  ( 'ily  of  (^uehee  as  in 
^'ille  Marie,  Montreal,  the  Island  of  Placentia,  St.  IVlers  and 
all  other  places  where  they  shall  he  judii-ed  ui'cessary,  on  con- 
dition nevertheless,  that  tins  he  done  with  eousc-nt  of  the 
Governor  (ir  Lieutenant  (ioNcrnor  of  the  said  counti'ies  and 
of  the  inhahilants  ot"  the  places  where  they  wish  to  estahlish 
themselves;  and  in  the  said  places  they  shall  discluu'ii'o  the 
functions  of  chaplains  to  our  troojjs,  .and  shall  (wcrcise  also 
the  ])aroi'hial  functions  wherever  the  r)islio[)  shall  Juduc;  nec- 
essary, and  shall  (Mnj)ower  them  to  do  so.  And  for  which 
they  shall  i'ee»'ive  as  alms  the  allowances  appointed  hy  Our 
Estates  to  he  furnisluMl  to  the  Chaplains  of  our  said  troops. 
AikI  we  have  also  (MifeoH'cd,  And  l>y  these  letters  signed  l)y 
Our  hand  wc  do  give  in  fee  their  (,'lmrehes  lodgings  and  Clois- 
ters of  the  Convents  estahlished  or  to  he  est!d)lished,  without 
their  heinir  ohliir*'*!  to  iiav  to  us,  or  to  the  Kinu'sour  Succes- 


OF   NEWFOUNDLAND. 


147 


sors  on  this  account  any  lines  or  indcnnntics  of  all  wiiicli  by 
those  presents  A\'o  make  thcni  a  grant  and  rcniiltance.  We 
conunand  our  taithfnl  and  well  hcloved  ('onns(dlors  of  the 
Council  of  (^uehee  and  dei'lare  to  all  others  whose  <lnty  it  is 
to  cause  them  to  be  ri'iiister(>d  and  to  tiive  tlu;  enjoyment  of 
the  riiihls  contained  in  them  to  the  said  lv(diiiious  fully  and 
peaceably  and  in  iH'rpetuity  ceasing  and  causiiii!^  to  cease,  any 
trouble  or  hindrance,  for  such  is  Our  pleasure.  And  that 
this  may  be  a  matter  for  ever  lixed  and  stable,  A\'e  have 
caused  our  seal  to  be  aflixed  to  these  i)resents. 

"  (liven  at  A'ersailles  in  tlu^  Month  of  March  the  year  of 
Grace  One  thousand  six  hundred  and  ninety-two,  and  of  Our 
reign  the  iiftv-ninth. 


'(Signed)      LOnS. 


l)y  the  King,  Piir.r.vi'KArx. 


( )n  ihe  outside  the  document  is  lidx'Ued  as  follows;  — 
"Letters  for  tlie  Kstal>lishment  of  the  IJecollet  Fathers  in 


la,  Isliuid  of  St.    Pit'rri',  and  Newfound    liMiid 


Canada,  Jshmd  ot  M.  I'u'rri',  ana  Aewtound  liMiid,  sijned 
Phelypeaux,  and  with  the  (Jreat  Seal  of  (Jreen  A\'ax  peuflaut 
by  a  silk  string,  green  and  red,  compared  wilh  thi^  original 
extant  on  Parchment,  by  Louis  (liiillon  de  Fouleny,  Our 
(larde  de  Notes  of  the  Iving  at  St.  Ciermain-en-Laye,  under- 
signed 17th  Ai)ril  1(U)2." 

From  this  document  it  appears  that  the  I'ranciscans  Avcro 
established  also  this  sanu'  year  in  St.  Pierre  and  Mi(|ueIon. 

AVe  have  s(M'n  that  though  tht^  Fngli>h  claimed  doniimon 
o\er  Xewfouu<lland,  yet  the  jjossession  was  not  considered  of 
nuich  account,  and  a  policy  of  repression  pre\  ailcil  all  through 
the  sevenleenlh  centiu'y.  Kveiy  eilbrt  was  ntade  to  prevent 
the  i)ermanent  settlement  of  the  cotnilry.  Ijonnycastle  (Vol. 
L,  p.  8;')),  writing  of  this  period  of  Xewfoumlland  history, 
says  :  '*\\'e  have  a  long,  uninteresting  s[)ace  tilled  wilh  (piarrel 
and  conipiaint  irom  .  .  .  1  (Id.")  down  to  li!!*:^. 
The  Island  underwent  many  convulsions  ;     .     .     .     for  ni'arly 


i 


"asimm^samm^m^mmilf. 


148 


KrCLKSIASTir.VL   TIISTOUY 


I 


ninety  years  niisnilo  rc-irod  ils  lu'jul,  and  society  was  in  a 
wretched  condition,  owinir  to  tlie  constant  ain'mosity  between 
the  incrcliant  ad\'en(ni'ers  and  the  si'llhu's.  .  .  .  Tlic 
istni<riilo  was  not  so  mucli  of  a  political  as  of  a  personal 
natnre,  and  it  arose  from  the  nnliniited  discretionarv  license 
of  the  il!itera((!  masters  of  vessels      .  .      and  the;  ahsiird 

policy  of  the  paren.t  state  in  discountenancinii;  settlement  hv 
every  meinis  in  its  power."  In  1070,  owini;  to  a  pamphlet  of 
Sir  Josiah  Child,  tlu^  I^ords  of  Trade  and  Plantation  obtained 
an  order  that  the  whole  colony  shonld  b(>  rooted  out,  and  tlie 
land  rednced  to  a  desert.  Sir  John  IJerry,  a  hnman(^  naval 
otlicer,  was  depnted  to  bnrn  the  houses  and  drive  out  the 
settlers.  He  remonstrated  aii'ainst  the  crnelt y,  and  in  11)7(5 
Mv.  John  Downing',  a  resident,  j)rocnr<'d  an  oi'der  fnnn  tlu^ 
Kiiii^  to  annnl  it.  Still  it  A\as  expressly  <leclare(l  that  no 
fishinii"-vessid  was  to  be  peiniittt'd  to  take  out  eniiui'ants, 
and  all  jjcrsons  were  forl>i(lden  to  settle.  In  spite  of  thoe 
obstacles  a  resident  population  sprain;'  np,  and  it  became 
necessary  at  last  to  rei'()i;ni/e  the  fact.  A  reiz'ulation  was 
then  passed  by  the  Uoard  of  Ti'a''  in  1(!;)7  in  which  it  was 
declared  that  "the  roident  population  should  not  \h\  .allowed 
to  increase  beyond  one  tlntusdiid."  The  policy  of  the  French, 
however,  was  (putc!  the  reverse.  Appreciatinii'  llm  value 
and  imi)ortance  of  Newfoundland,  they  endeavored,  .  lej)  l)y 
stci),  to  ad\ar.ce  to  the  |)ossi>ssi()n  of  the  whole  island.  In 
tiio  year  Kil).")  the  French  obtained  pernussion  to  dry  li>ii  on 
the  shores  of  the  Island.  This  was  the  lir^t  sle|)  towards 
fornnn^'  a  permanent  settlement.  Inseiisilily  they  encroached 
until,  as  we  ha\(;  seen,  by  the  year  IdliO  they  wei'e  well  set- 
tled and  strengthened  in  position  at.  I'lacentia.  and  probaldy 
in  other  places.  \\\  1(!75  the  Knuli>h  kiui;  (('harles  II.) 
remitted  the  tax  hitherto  i)aid  on  imports  by  the  French  as 
a  token  of  sovereiii'nty.  A\'ithin  a  few  yeai-s  they  had  (>stal)- 
lished  their  do,  inion  ()\cr  a  territory  of  two  lumdred  miles 
in  extent.  On  the  accession  of  AVilliam.  1 1 1,  to  the  thione 
of  EuL^land,  1(!SS,  owiny  to  European  combinations,  war  was 
declared  against  Franct',  and,  as  usual,  s[)read  to  tin;  colonies. 


OF    NEWFOUNDLAND. 


1  I!) 


1  8i-;i 


Tt  was  just  about  this  tiuic  that  the  French  wore  pstahlish- 
iii<^  themselves  in  all  security  in  JMuceiitia,  aiul  preparing 
to  found  !i  reuular  ecclesiastical  mission  there.  The  eyes  of 
(ho  Eniilish  l)ei!:an  to  he  at  last  opened  to  these  rapid  and  tirm 
eneroaehmenls  ;  init  it  was  almost  too  late.  In  the  year  1092 
an  Enu'lish  S(|uadr()n,  under  Connnodore  Williams,  a})[)oare(l 
before  Placentia;  hut  the  French  fortifications  wen^  impre<;- 
nahle,  and  tlu^  attach  was  unsuccessful.  The  ruins  of  the 
forts  still  exist iuij  iiive  us  some  idea  of  the  strenn'tli  of  the 
fortress.  "  The  environing  hill,"  says  Dr.  Mullock  (Lecture 
I.,  p.  1.')),  "(he  two  arms  of  tlu^  sea  with  a  rapid  tidal  cur- 
rent reminding  tlu;  French  of  tlu;  arrowy  Khoiie  in  their 
own  land,  and  lh(^  almost  total  exemption  from  fog  in  ;i  hay 
remarkalile  for  it,  induced  them  to  call  it  IMaisance,  —  a 
pleasant  jjlaee,  —  now  Placentia.  Tliey  early  saw  the  im- 
portance of  tlie  ac(|uisiti()n,  and  pr()\  ided  for  its  security 
hy  strong  fortifications.  Thcsi!  are  now  in  ruins,  —  they 
'  ve  ser\('d  as  a  (juarry  for  tiie  few  buildings  re(iuiring  stone 
or  lirick.  I'he  great  demilune  which  guarded  tlu^  entrance 
of  the  port  (and  was  called  Fort  Ijouis)  is  now  a  slia[)eless 
heap  of  rul)bi^h,  its  vaulted  brick  casements  have;  been  all 
desti'oyed,  and  th(>  remains  of  a  castle  on  C'reveceur  Hill 
ai'(^  slowly  ])erishing." 

The  history  of  Xewfoundland  from  this  time,  1(»()0,  until 
the  Treaty  of  l'(rech(,  17 1;!,  at  which  time  the  Fren«'h 
abandoned  it  for  good,  is  but  a  con(inuan<'e  of  skii'mishes, 
attacks,  and  reprisals  on  the  part  of  the  two  rival  nations. 
"AVe  see,"'  says  Dr.  Mullock  (Lectures,  p.  lO),  "twogivat 
and  powerful  nations  (>stablished  on  (he  shores  of  Xewfound- 
land, oi)posed  in  ])oli(ics,  in  inter("^t,in  religion,  and  i(  is 
easy  to  imagine  that  the  |)rogress  of  the  country  nmst  have 
been  not  (udy  retarde<l,  but  absolutely  impossible." 

In  the  year  KiOl  a  French  (leet  of  ten  sail,  undei-  ('he\a- 
lier  Xesmond,  was  ordered  to  join  tiie  IJocheford  s(|iiadron 
and  proceed  to  Xew  toundlaud  and  drive  out  the  Fnglish. 
They  attacked  St.   John's,   but    were  repulsed. 

In  the  year  KlIK!-?  a  more  t'ormidable  attack  was  mjulo 


i 


150 


ECCLESIASTICAL   IIISTOIJV 


ovorliiixl  (Voiu  IMiuontia,  uiuler  the  coniniMnd  of  Pici'i'c  h? 
jMoiiie  D'lhcrvillc,  on  wliicli  occuKion  tlic  wliolo  Island,  with 
tli(>  cx('ci)ti()ii  of  CiirhinoiM's'  Harbor  and  IJonavisia,  was  cai)- 
tmvd  by  tlic  Fr(Mi('h,  and  remained  in  tliciv  possession  for 
several  years,  till  the  Treaty  of  Utreelit,  17  i;?. 

All  interestinii'  aeconnt  of  tliis  ex[)edi(i()n,  written  by  M. 
Baudouin,  cliaplain  to  the  I'^reneh  army,  lias  lately  been  dis- 
covered in  the  Ottawa  Library.  It  was  kindly  copied  in  the 
<)ri<rinal  French  by  'Sir.  ,Iacl<,  of  New  Bninswick,  for  J.  V. 
llowley,  Es(|.,  F.di.S.,  to  whom  I  am  indeltted  for  permis- 
sion to  irive  some  extracts  from  it.  It  has  ni'ver  yet  been, 
as  far  as  I  am  aware,  ])nl)lished  or  translated  into  l-ini^Iish. 
It  is  the  intention  of  Mr.  llowley  to  do  so  soon,  'rhonuh 
not  immediately  coimected  with  the  ec-elesiastical  history  of 
Ncwfonndl.md,  yet  it  may  be  deemed  sufliciently  relevant  as 
showinu'  in  a  graphic  maimer  the  state  of  the  country  at  the 
period  of  which  we  are  writinii".  It  is  addressed  to  some 
iiish(ii),  as  a[)i)ears  from  the  titl(>  vi'  J\f(niseif/)tein',  'VUc  uood 
abbe,  thou<:h  full  of  zeal  for  his  spiritual  mission  and  for  tlu^ 
conversion  of  savai>'('s,  yet  seems  to  be  of  a  thoroughly  mar- 
tial spirit,  and  describes  with  evident  (/o/'/f  and  vivacity  liie 
sev(M'al  na\  al  and  military  cnpiii'cments  which  he  witnessi'd 
at  I'aye  des  Fspai>nols  (Sydney),  where  they  arii\('d  on  the 
2(!tli  June,  and  he  l)apti'/ed  and  married  several  Indians. 
Thence  they  i)roceed'';i  to  St.  John,  N.B.,  where  they  en- 
ii"ae-ed  two  Fnu'lish  ships  and  cai)tured  them.  He  then  de- 
scribes the  taking  of  Pemkuit  and  several  other  ex[)loits. 


i 


AC'ADIK.  — 1(;!h;-i(;})7. 

JOURXAL  OF  SIEI'R  nAU'DOVIX,    M ISS lOXI'Jt. 

".TOrUNAL  OI'  THE  VOVAOK  WlllCir  I  IIAVK  MADK  WITH  M. 
d'iBEKVILLK,  CAI'TAIX  of  A  I'liKiATE  OK  FItANCK,  IN  ACADIK, 
AM)    FKOM    ACAUIE    TO    TIIK    ISLAM)    OF    NEWFOUNDLAND.' 

On  the  .")d  of  September  they  set   sail   foi-  Placeiitia,  and 
arrived  there  on  the   12th    in    the    morninu'.     A  l)oat  canu^ 


c 


"n 
:o 
m 

z 
n 

I 


o 

H 


mil 
1 


Hi  ! 


(»F   NEWFOUNDLAND. 


}')l 


fVoni  the  slioro  and  l)r()uu!if  a  Icllor  from  llic  Tiicutonant  of 
tlu'  Kiiiir  1<>  S!iy  tliat  M.  dc  liroiiilloii,  the  uovciiior,  had  left 
witii  tlic  Maloviaiis  (iiuMi  of  St.  Maio).  Alc.s.siciirs  D'HxtvUIo 
and  Uonavoiilnvo  (his  lieutenant),  castinj^  anelior,  wcMit  to  a.sk 
for  jiroxisions  of  the  licutenMnl-ii'ovcrnor.  'Iho  EdvIcux, 
M.  I)"ll)ervillt>'s  vessel,  had  been  obliged,  for  sonio  time  past, 
to  sui»[)ly  with  ))rovision8  the  Prq/hiid,  ]\I.  de  lionaveni lire's 
ves.sel.  The  lieiitenant-ii'overnor  informed  them  that  there 
was  nothing  to  s[)ar(^  in  the  se(tlemen(.  They  then  entered 
the  j)orl  (that  is,  inside  the  uiil  )  and  awaited  the  arrival  of 
the  PiistHhm  or  tlu^  Wasjt,  with  provisions.  These  wer(\ 
doubtless,  prizes  tak(Mi  from  the  Knii'lish,  They  did  not  ar- 
rive, however  (itroliabiy  from  Franee),  until  the  lOth  of  Oeto- 
l)er,  AI.  de  Uroiiillon,  th(»  (iovernor  of  IMacentia,  arrived 
on  the  17th.  lie  had  been  on  an  exjxulition  with  som(>  Ma- 
lovian  soldiers  or  sailors,  to  attaek  St.  John's,  but  failed, 
(iiiyon  arrixcd  from  Uoston  with  his  men,  and  M.  I)"Iber- 
A  ille  ])repared  to  no  in  a  bark  canoe  to  take  ( 'arl)()iniiere  aiul 
St.  .John's, — a  feat  which,  as  the  se(|uence  will  sliow,  was  not 
so  eas\-,  at  least  as  rciiards  the  former  place.  II(>  jiroposed 
to  releii'ate  to  the  s})rinu-time  the  capture  of  r>onavista.  and 
the  i>-uttinir  of  the  merchant  ships  there.  In  this  little  pime 
\w  also  reckoned  without  his  host.  On  the  l<Sth  .some 
prisonci's  arrived  iVom  St.  John's,  and  informed  them  that 
there  were;  oi<>-ht  ships  at  Carboimiere,  laden  with  iish.  A 
dispute  then  aros(>  bi-lween  Srs.  do  Hroniilon  and  I)'Il)erville. 
Tlu^  fonu(>r  wished  to  march  at  once  upon  St.  John's,  h'a\in<r 
Carbonniere  for  after-work.  I)'Ibervilhi  refused,  and  said  he 
would  return  to  France.     Th(>  eoldiers,  Canadians,  j)i'ol)alily 


Mi 


icmaes  or  lialf-l)reeds,  refused  ioao  with  De  Ih'ouilion,  and 


would  return  to  Canada,  uidess  D'Iberville  should  I'onunand 
in  person.  After  some  time  they  came  to  an  undiM'statuliui:. 
De  lirouillon  lel't  in  the  Pvofhnd  for  Ivoii-nouze,  and  D"Il)cr- 
ville,  witli  120  men,  started  for  Forillon  (Fcrryland),  on  All 
Saints  Day  ( November  1st). 

Next  day  (All  Souls)  they  took  the  land,  havini;:  walked 
on  the  ice  uj)  the  S.E.  Arm,  for  al)out  a  league  and  a  half  from 


l;-i: 


ECCLESIASTICAL   HISTORY 


(lie  scttlomoiit.  The  travelling  was  very  lnul,  tlio  men  sink- 
iniion  (lie  wet  moss  to  the  knees  {juxqn'a  ml-jamhc),  and  in 
passin*,^  the  lakes  and  vivei's,  up  to  tlie  waist  in  water.  After 
tendiiys'  I'onte  lliey  arrived  at  Fcriilon  (on  tiie  lOtli).  'I'liey 
were  eoniini;  sliort  of  provisions  for  the  last  two  days,  and 
foniid  alidut  a  do/en  hors(>s  at  this  pl;ice,  wliich  eanie  in 
veiT  (i/irii/xis.  It  seems  they  took  Forillon  without  any 
didicuhy. 

Oil  liu'  lltli  Sr.  de  ]\ane(\uiie  arrived  from  St.  John's  with 
three  men,  who  were  almost  famislied.  Tht;  people  of 
Forillon,  to  the  numher  of  one  hundred  and  ten,  had  tied  to 
Hay  IJoulle.  which  they  were  fortifying'.  Another  disajjfi'ec- 
inent  arose  between  Messieurs  1  )'ll)('r\ille  and  !)(>  Urouillon 
eoiieeruini:"  the  booty. 

On  the  21st  tlu'V  set  out  for  r»ay  Uoulle  in  boats,  where 
they  captured  a  merchant  slii])  of  100  tons,  the  crew  of  which, 
as  well  as  the  inhabitants  of  the  plac(>,  lied  into  the  woods. 

On  the  2(!tli  1  )"Ibci\  ille,  with  seven  men,  started  in  ad- 
vance of  the  main  I)ody.  and  took  Petty  llai'bor,  which  made 
a  pretty  stron<i;  resistance  ;  thirty-six  of  the  Fnu'lish  w(!ro 
killed.  There  were  sixty  men  in  I'l'tty  Harbor, — all  viM-y 
conit()rtaI)lc.  They  marched  thence  on  to  St.  ffolnfs.  At 
about  seven  and  a  half  miles  from  Petty  lIarI)or,  on  the  28th, 
they  encountered  a  body  of  Fnii'lish,  numlji-riiiii"  eiiihty-eiu'ht, 
who  were  posted  in  a  liurnt  wood,  full  of  rocks,  behind 
which  they  lay  in  anil)usli.  Alter  about  half  an  hour's  ti_i>ht- 
inu'  they  dislodiicd  them,  and  drove  them  back  on  St.  John's. 
M.  D'Iberville  sei/.e<l  tlu;  liist  two  forts  of  St.  .lolm's,  which 
the  enemy  had  abandoned,  and  made  thirty-three  prisoners. 
'J'lu^  rest  of  the  inhabitants  took  refiiu-e  in  the  araiid  fort,  and 
in  a  ketch  {(juaisclK')  in  the  harbor.  "J'here  were  about  two 
Inindred  men  in  St.  John's.  Tli(>  fort,  as  described,  was 
probably  on  the  site  of  Fort  AVilliam. 

It  was  besieired.  On  the  ;>Oth  a  man  came  out  from  the 
fort  with  a  white  lla<>-,  to  treat  of  a  eai)itulati()n.  Tin;  fort 
was  given  u[)  the  same  day,  and  the  Freneh  took  possession. 
The  governor  of  the  place  was  only  a  simple  citizen,  elected 


..I, 


< 


4 


J|! 


OF   NEWFOrNDLANI). 


i:>3 


by  tlio  caplaiiis  of  llid  vessels  ior  tlir  yciir.  On  the  2d  of 
Dcccinltci' llic  French  took  l*orliii:;iI  ( 'ove,  which  conlMiiied 
thi'ce  faiiiilies;  also  Toihay,  which  had  likewise  tiire(! 
families,  and  Kerividi  ((^nidi  Vidi),  which  had  nine  families. 
They  hnrnt  every  house  in  St.  .John's,  and  llu'  hoats  in  llni 
harhor.  Oulhe  1  Uh  .lanuaiT,  HIHT,  they  started  for  I'or- 
tuLial  ( 'ove,  and  arrived  tliere  on  thi^  1  !Mh.  Thenc"  they  trav- 
elled alonu'  th(^  shore  of  Conception  liay  to  the  bottom,  where 
they  found  some  men  sawinii'  wood,  who  had  come  from  Car- 
bonniere.  ( )n  tin-  iMlth  they  took  Harbor  Men  (.>hiine),  wIkmh; 
there  was  one  house.  On  tin;  'J.'mI  they  left  in  thr(!e  boats 
for  Carbonniere.  They  passed  by  liriuiie,  where  tiiert;  were, 
about  sixty  men,  and  arrived  at  Port  (}rav(>.  which  they 
took,  'inhere  were;  our  him(b'e(l  and  ten  men  and  seventeen 
houses  there,  well  armed.  On  the  'ilth  th(>y  .set  out  for  Car- 
bonniere; L(>  Sr.  (le  Montiuny  was  sent  with  a  di'tach- 
ment  to  take  Musipiito.  In  passing'  from  IIarl)()r  (Jrace 
to  Carbonniere  in  boats  they  discovered  that  the  inhabi- 
tants of  this  latter  place  had  entrenche(l  themselv(>s  on  the 
Island,  and  they  tired  some  cannon  shots  at  the  French. 
There  were  al)out  two  hundred  on  the  Island,  ha\in^'  lied 
there  from  Harbor  (li'ace,  Mus{|uito,  and  even  St.  John's. 
Tiiey  had  erected  barracks  and  stroni;'  forts.  Ilaviui;'  arrived 
at  Carboimiere,  the  I'^'ench  sent  to  sunuuon  the  people  on 
the  Island,  but  wei'(>  met  with  detiance.  They  found  it 
impossible  to  attack  it,  as  it  was  stee])  on  all  sides,  -with  the 
exception  of  two  places  of  landing;',  which  were  well  guarded. 
On  the  21hh  thev  received  prisoners  from  IJriii'ue,  amon<>: 
whom  were  eiulit  Irishmen,  "whom,"  say.s  M.  IJaudouin, 
''the  Kn,Li'li>h  treat  as  slaves." 

Several  attempts  were  made  by  M.  D'llxM-vilh^  to  land  on 
the  Island,  but  in  vain.  On  the  night  of  the  1st  they  went 
all  round  the  Island  in  boats. 

On  the  ',>({  they  took  Uay  V(>r,  where  there  were  sonic 
fourteen  houses  and  a))()ut  ninety  men.  From  there  they 
went  to  Old  I'erlican  ;  there  were  there  nineteen  houses, 
several  stores,  more  than  thirty  head  of  horned  cattle,  and 


l:  i: 


.  I     ) 


IM 


ECCLKSIASTirAL   IIISTOIiY 


11  nninbcr  of  sliO('i)  iiiul  ]»i,u:s.  On  (ho  7lli  llicy  went  lo  Aiu'i> 
Iluvro  (Hants  Ilarltoi).  Tlioro  worn  I'oiir  liousos,  hut  Iho 
pooplo  had  all  Ih'd.  On  tlio  niorniiiir  of  tho  -Slh  Ihoy  started 
l"(tr  Colioovo  (Silly  C()V(>),  wlioro  tiicro  woro  lour  houses  and  a 
jjfreat  quantity  of  llsh  and  cattle,  'riioncc  thoy  came  to  Now 
I'erlican  ;  there  \ver(^  thoi'o  nine  houses  and  .stores.  J'liey  left 
innnediatc'ly  for  Harbor  Content  (Havre  Content),  where 
there  was  a  sort  ci'  fort  or  barricade,  niad(!  of  boards,  with 
portholes  al)o\('  and  below.  This  1ein[)orary  i'ortress  was 
connnanded  by  an  Irishman.  They  surrendere(|  on  beini^ 
sunnnoned.  'i'here  were  thirty  men,  beside-;  women  and 
chddren.  Having'  left  the  place  in  charnt;  of  M.  Deschau- 
fours  with  ten  men,  they  slaried  the  followinii"  day  for  Car- 
bonniere.  When  arrived  there  Ihey  found  that  the  J']n;f'.ish 
had  taken  i)risoners  oik;  Frenchmen  and  three  Irishmen,  who 
had  taken  part  with  the  I-'rcndi.  A  detalchmcnl  under  Iiois- 
briand  was  sent  to  burn  Uriuue,  Port  (irave,  etc.  HarI»or 
(Jrace  had  fourteen  houses,  ( 'arbonniere,  twcnty-t wo,  —  Uu\ 
besV  built  in  all  Newfoundland,  Some  of  the  mei'chants  were 
men  t)f  1' 100, ()()()  worth  of  i)ro[)erty.  On  the  1  7th  they  entered 
into  neii'oliations  with  tin;  peoph*  on  the  Island  ior  an  ex- 
ehanii'e  of  prisoners.  'I'lie  Knii'lish  demanded  one  I"Jii;iish- 
maii  ill  lic'U  of  their  French  prisoner,  and  three  for  each 
Irishman.  'I'he  place  of  exchange  was  aureetl  upon,  namcdy, 
out  of  gunshot  of  the  Island,  about  half-way  between  it  and 
the  shore.  'J'he  Fnulish  cami^  without  their  prisoiuM's,  and 
some  words  ensued.  The  Fi'ench  accused  them  ot'  breakiuii; 
their  word,  and  casliiii^-  ridicule  upon  the  orders  of  the  Kinir. 
The  French  seized  the  Knu'lish  ollieers,  and  took  tlicm  |)ris- 
oners.  On  the  2Sth  they  burned  ( "arltonniere,  and  left  ai^ain 
for  Havre  Coiitenl.  On  tlH>  1st  of  March  .M.  l)"li)crvill(; 
sent  .MM.  de  Montiii'ny  aii<l  do  la  Peii'iere  to  i:o  with  all 
the  prisoners  (al)out  L>0<))  to  \V.\y  JJoulle  (I5:iy  Hulls  Arm, 
in  the  bottom  of  Trinity  Uay).  He  left  M.  de  Uoisbriand 
with  a  detachment  at  Havre  Content,  with  orders  to  keep  a 
.strict  watch  on  Carbonniere,  and  he  himself,  with  nine  men, 
set  out  across  (he   woods  for  IMaisanco.     "The  road,"' says 


V. 


OF   NKW FOUND r-AM). 


If)-) 


%> 


M.    r>:ui(loiiiii,    ili'yly,    "i^   not    as    irood    as    from    Paris    to 
Versailles." 

On  the  I'.ltli  of  Maicii  M.  D'li.erville  jefl  IMaeeiitia  in  a 
\HV,d  Tor  the  Hay  of"  Croiiiwell  (Oliver's  Cove),  llei'e  tl'^'y 
met  willi  M.  IN'iriei'e,  who  came  iVoiii  Uay  TmiIIs  Aim  to  tiieet 
them.  He  had  come  iVom  Havre  ( 'oiitent  witli  nine  hoats, 
and  sixtv  men  i)ri  oners.  ( )n  tiie  2(>lh  Sr.  de  Montiunv 
arrived  witli  twenty  Irishmen,  who  had  taken  pai'l  with  tlu^ 
French.  On  the  2Mh  they  went  to  the  I'ay  of  tln^  Sonnd 
(Uandom),  and  to  Trinity,  where  they  l>nrne(l  two  honses. 
jNI.  D'lherviile  went  1o  IMaeentla  to  uather  ail  tln^  forces 
possible  lor  the  attack  on  IJonaxisIa,"  whieli.">ays  liaudonin, 
"  is  the  last  wiiieh  remains  entire  in  the  hands  of  the  Urilish." 
It  contains  thi'ee  hnndred  men,  and  ahont  I'oi't y  houses.  M. 
I)'II)erville  awaite(l  at  IMacenlia  the  arrival  IV(»ni  l'" ranee  of  the 
lleet,  under  tlu!  Sr.  d(>  Seriiiin',  Avhich  event  did  not  occm- 
until  the  isth  of  May.  Jn  the  meantime  M.  de  Montiu'iiy  and 
de  la  I'eiriere  went  to  New  Peiiican  ami  captured  a  vessel  ; 
thence  to  I»ay  \'er  and  to  Hiivre  Content,  wlu're  they  found 
M.  d(^  lioi.shriand.  An  Irishman,  who  had  escapecl  from  iIk; 
Island  by  swinnninu' ashore  at  niirht-time,  found  his  way  iicross 
thi^  country  from  Carhonniere  to  Ha\re  Content.  He  had 
l)een  three  days  in  the  woods  without  food  or  iirinn",  and 
Avas  very  nuich  IVost-I)itten.  He  told  them  there  were  .'SOO 
men  on  the  Inland,  and  others  arri\  inu"  daily  from  all  parts, 
even  from  IMaeentia.  M,  r»aud()uin  says  nothinii'  more  about 
lionavista,  exee[)t  simply  that  M.  I  )"Il)erville  did  not  iro 
there.  He  then  g'ives  an  at-eount  of  the  English  and  the 
coimtry  ixenerally,  which,  tlionuh  no  douitt  very  nuich  exaif- 
a'crated,  yet  is  so  uraphic,  and  contains  so  nuich  evident 
truth,  that  I  fain  to  (piote  more  tully  from  it  :  "The  French, 
and  I  say  it  with  shame  for  our  nation,  deem  tin;  country 
impassable.  .  .  .  Not  so  the  Enjilish,  they  know  it 
perfectly,  even  that  |)art  which  Ixdongs  to  France,  for  they 
uuided  us  everywhere,  through  the  woods  and  ulon^c  the 
coasts,  where,  for  more  than  one  hundred  and  ninety  leaj^ues, 
they  have  roads  beaten,  tit  to  ride  upon  horseback.     More 


ir)fl 


KCCLKSIASTICAL   IIISTOltV 


than  (wo  IiuikIihmI  of  llicin  spend  (lie  winlcr  liiiiitii)ir  in  llio 
depths  of  the  forest,  whei'e  thi'V  kill  l»e;ncis,  otters,  deer, 
Iteiirs,"   c*Ce. 

lie  says  lhes(>  Kntvlish  liinit<'rs  :ire  uood  sjiols,  l)ut  ixi'eat 
cowards,  so  (hat  one  hundred  of  iheni  woidd  lly  Itefoi-e  one 
Fr(MK'hinan.  lie  then  describes,  in  most  deplorMhle  terms, 
llu'  ahominahle  lives  |(>d  hy  these  men.  "They  hasn  not,"  ho 
says,  ''a  single  minister  of  reliction  in  tliese  eslahlishments, 
thonirli  more  than  twenty  of  them  are  lai'ii'cr  settlements  than 
IMacentia.  Tht-y  do  not  know  wh.it  reliiiion  they  Iteloni;  to. 
The  Lireater  part  of  them,  horn  in  tiiis  country,  ha\e  never 
leceivcd  any  instrnction,  and  never  make  any  act  of  relii;ion, 
no  more  than  mei'e  savau:es.  l)rnnkenn(^ss  and  impurity  am 
conunon  and  public  amonu'  them,  even  anioiiij:  the  women." 
In  lin(!,  he  '^hos  a  tai»ular  stiiteiuent  of  the  places  taken  l)y 
the  French  (3(1),  the  number  of  houses  (II!*),  number  of 
men  ( 1 ,7.');')). 

The  Hon.  Judire  Prowso,  in  his  lecture  on  "  I'piso(h^s  in 
our  Karly  History,"  says:  "The  French  and  I'jiu'lish  ac- 
counts of  (his  attack  an;  very  contradii'tory  : "  and  so  (hey 
indeed  are,  if  fludiio  Prowso  is  to  bo  ndied  on  for  (he  sum- 
maiy  uiven  l)y  him  from  the  English  point  of  view.  For  in- 
stance, the  learned  Judii<!  writes  :  "The  French  accoinit  says 
(hat  (hey  ((he  French)  entered  llie  fort  with  the  Fni>Iish." 
This  is  n;"t  (juit(^  correct,  as  will  be  seen  from  M.  I'audouin's 
diary.  Th(>  skirmish  on  tlu^  old  Petty  Harbor  road  took  place 
on  November  2.Sth.  On  that  day  \\w  French  captured  two 
smaller  forts  in  St.dohn's;  but  not  the  "irraud  fort  "  (Fort 
William),  into  which  the  Fnu'lish  had  retired.  '\Seeinij  they 
wore  about  to  defiMid  themselves,"  says  M.  r>audouin,  "wo 
sent  to  Bay  Ijoulle  for  the  mortars  and  bunibs  and  )>owder. 
On  (he  niiiht  of  the  21tth  and  .'lOth  MM.  de  Mins  and  do 
Montigny  went  with  sixty  Canadians  to  burn  the  houses 
near  the  fort;"  and,  aceordin_<r  to  him,  the  fort  did  not  yield 
till  "the  30th,  day  of  St.  Andrew."  So,  on  this  point,  it  will 
bo  seen  that  the  French  nave  credit  to  the  Fnirlish  for  three 


H 


OV   NFAVFOl  NDLAM). 


i:>7 


i 


(lays'  rosislancc.  .Iii(li.n'  Prowso  (•(»i)liiiii("<  io  dcscrllx!  llio 
most  nnoltinj:  l>Mrl)!irisiii  pi'MdiscMl  hy  (lid  Frcncli.  "'llw 
I'^rcncli  took  one  \\'illiaiii  Drew,  an  iiilialiitaiit,  a  prisoiici', 
cut  all  ai'otiiid  liis  sciilp,  llicii  l>y  slrcnutli  of  hand  sliippcil 
]m  skill  IVoiu  liis  forehead  lo  his  crown,  and  then  sent  liini 
Itacis  into  llie  fori,  assurinii'  tlie  iniiahitants  Ihey  would  lie  all 
served  Ihe  same  way  if  they  did  not  surrender."  'I'liis  slale- 
ment  Is  alloucther  loo  hori'ihle  fo  he  helieved,  and  tin;  Al)he 
IJandonin  says  not  a  word  ahoiit  i(,  hnl  descrihes  the  sur- 
render in  (juile  a  dilleicnt  inannei'.  "The  .'V)lh,"  he  says, 
"the  day  of  St.  Andrew,  a  man  c.anie  from  the  fort  with  a 
while  Ihiii',  lo  spe.-dv  of  surrender.  .  .  .  The  ( io\  ei-nor 
with  fom-  of  the  priiuipal  cili/.ens  cMme  for  ;m  interview. 
Thev  Avoidd  not  allow  us  to  enter  the  fori,  lest  we  should 
see  the  miserahle  |)lii!ht  to  which  they  were  reduced.  It 
was  aii'reed  they  should  surrender  on  condition  of  heinu^ 
al]ow(>d  to  depai't  for  i^nuland.  The  capitulation  was  hrouiiht 
in  writini>'  to  the  fort,  and  appi'o\('d  of  liy  the  principal 
citizens  (Ixmriit'ois)  iuid  sii^ned  hy  the  ( Jo\ei'nor  and  M.  d(^ 
r>rouillon." 

All  this  certainly  looks  like  the  most  approv(>d  style  of 
civili/ed  and  orthodox  warfare.  And,  aiiain,  M,  r>audouin  tells 
ns  that  a  thoroui^hly  rclii^ious  spirit  pervaded  the  French 
forces,  llet'orc  u'oinLf  into  iiulil  they  all  rect'lvcd  ahsohilion, 
.and  durinii'  the  cam[)aiirn  they  frc(|iiently  approached  the 
ISacraments,  and  that  the  _i«reater  part  of  them  had  tlu;  fear 
of  (Jod,  to  which  he  attributes  their  wonderful  success.  "I 
have  never  before,"  he  says,  "seen  so  cle.arly  accom|)li>hed 
that  which  (lod  says  rei:ardini:'  those  who  serve  him."  On 
{\\v.  other  hand,  he  draws  a  most  lamentable  iiictiuc  of  the 
stat(M)f  the  Enu'lish  inhabitants.  "  It  is  impossible,"  he  says, 
" to  imaijine  auythinu"  more  abominab|(>  than  the  life  led  by 
the  Knijlish  of  these  coasts."  They  are  left  altou't^thcr 
without  the  succor  of  religion,  and  are  d(>nenera.ted  into 
a  race  almost  worse  than  savages.  ("linu;  of  the  most 
loathsome  nature  is  tjuite  })ul)lic  amonu'  them  ;  not  only  that, 
but,  as  the  Abbe  Baudouin  states,  "they  endeavored  even 


i:)8 


E( "CLKSI ASTICA L    II ISTOIJ V 


to  cnlico  our  iiicii  to  I'vil."  Now,  oven  iu;ikii\n'  full  iillowaiico 
for  the  patriotism  aii'l  j)i'('jiuru'('  of  this  /.(viloiis  chaplain,  \vc 
can  scarcely  douht  t!iat  tlu^  state  ol'tliese  jioor  peoples  at  that 
time  imi>t  have  heeii  wry  low  in  llie  moral  scale.  As  to  tiie 
French,  it  is  aiuazinu'  to  think  that  they  could  hyvo  hrouuht 
an  army  through  those  trackless  woods,  —  a  thinui;  which  now, 
after  the  improN cments  and  chanii'es  of  over  \\\o  hundred 
and  seventy  years,  cv  uld  scarcely  lu'  altempted.  That  they 
were  couraireous,  enthusiiistii',  ])erhaps  severe  even  to  ihe 
verge  of  cruelty,  we  can  easily  Ixlieve.  A\'arfar(i  at  l»est 
is  not  a  mollilier  of  human  passions  ;  but  I  think  we  must 
decline  to  u'ive  credence  to  the  l)arl)arous  story  of  tlu>  scalp- 
ini:'.  It  is  true  that  there  was  a  contin'""nt  of  Canadian  Indians 
and  half-l)i'eeds  with  tht>  l"'rench  trooi)s  who  mii:ht  ])ossihIy 
have  been  'guilty  of  such  an  outrai:'e  ;  but  instead  of  lieing 
acknowledged  or  countenanced  by  the  Fi'cnch  ollicers,  it  is 
most  probable  that  if  discovered  it  woidd.  l)e  puiii>he;!  with 
the  utmost  severity. 

S[ieakini;'  of  this  period  of  our  history,  Uonnycastle  (\'oI. 
I.,  [)p.  i>'2  iv:'[  .sd )  says:  "  For  nearly  ninety  years  misrule 
reared  its  head,  and  society  was  in  a  wretched  condition. 
'I"her(>  was  no  Fnuli^h  cK'ruyman  in  the  country  until  alioul 
nine  years  after  the  e\ents  recorded  by  Altlie  IJaudouin. 
This  year  (IT'i"))  was  rcMuarkable  lor  that  in  which  the 
first  resident  cleriiyman  or  missionary  of  the  Church  of 
Enirland  arrived  in  .\i'\»  ibundland.  .  .  .  His  name  was 
rFat'kson." 

ll  was  not  till  about  sixty  years  afterwards  (17(!."))  that 
the  fn-.-t  >b'thodist  minister  arrived  in  New  tbundland.  This 
was  the  IJev.  Mr.  Couj^hlan.  lie  was  estalilished  in  Har- 
bor (ira<'e;  lait,  according  to  lu'V.  Mv.  Uond,  in  the  St. 
,Iohn">  "Daily  lOveniiig  Tcdegram,"  Christmas,  ISS,'),  (juot- 
ing  iVom  N\'ils(*n's  "  Wesleyanism  in  Xewfoundland,"  he 
was  not  a  recogni/.ed  Methodist  minister,  having  been 
"ordained  by  the  IVishop  of  I^ondou  "  as  an  Anglican 
(deruyinan,  and  sent  out  at  the  expense  of  the;  ";>ociety 
for    the    Propagation    of    the     (losiu-l."'       Nc\  ertlndcss,    he 


1^ 


OF   NEWFOUNDLAND. 


159 


sccins  to  have  roconcilcd  it  to  his  conscience  to  act  in  a 
(hial  capacity.  "Thouiili  a  clcriiynuin,"  says  Mr.  Bond, 
"he  was  still  a  Methodist  preacher.*'  "Whether  this  is 
compatihlo  with  tiie  principles  of  ^^'eslevanisnl  or  not  I 
am  not  sutD(;iently  initiated  to  ))ass  an  o[)ini  m  ;  hut,  cer- 
'i.iinl}',  viewed  JVom  the  stand-point  of  honesty,  it  has,  to 
say  the  least,  a  (h)ul)trnl  appearance. 

For  the  next  tltteen  or  sixteen  years  the  history  of  Xew- 
fonndland  consists  of  a  series  of  alternating'  coniiuests  and 
deteats  hetween  the  French  and  English.  " 'J'lie  island  was 
torn  and  harassed  by  lielty  Avarfare  and  de|)redalion,  heinu' 
sometimes  in  possession  of  one  power,  sometimes  of  the  other" 
(Honycastle,  p.  87. )  In  lli'.l.S  iVdmiral  Neville  and  Sir  John 
(lihson  appeared  oil"  the  coast.  In  1703  .Vdmiral  (iray(h)n 
came  ;  hut  the  French  still  held  possession,  thouiiii  it  seems 
ihey  were  ousted  from  some  places  for,  in  1704  we  find 
some  of  the  Altenacpiis  Indians  had  estalilished  themselves  in 
Newfoundland,  and  wcmc  attacked  l)y  the  Knulish.  They 
applied  to  the  Ciovtrnor  of  Placentia,  ^^.  Vaudrenil,  for 
assistance.  M.  Montiuny  was  sent  to  their  aiil  with  al)out 
iifty  Canadians.  In  170")  INI.  Suljcrcase,  having  succeeded 
]M.  de  Ih'ouillon  in  the  government  of  I'lacentia,  endeavored  to 
make  thorough  work  with  the  English.  The  French  were 
this  time  assisted  hy  the  Ahenaciuis,  under  lluMr  cclel)iated 
leader,  Nescand)ouit.  They  set  out  from  I'lacentia  with  an 
army  of  some  fonror  live  hundred,  and  Iravelledon  snow-sh()es. 
as  did  l)"Il)t'rville*s  men  a  few  y(>ars  before.  riiey  started 
al)out  the  l,')th  of  January,  and  did  not  meet  u[)  with  tlu^ 
English  till  the  2(itli,  having  suH'ered  nuich  from  th(>  cold. 
The  ])lace  of  encounter  is  called  in  Ans|)ach  (j).  'i'-V,))  Jirhnu, 
which  may  be  a  corruption  of  IJcnouse,  or  more  likely  a 
typographical  mistake  for  Jiihon.  which  would  be  a  FrcMich 
way  of  writing  JJaz/hn/ls.  They  next  took  Petty  Ilarhor. 
Tli(>v  then  pursued  in  the  track  of  D'lbervilh^  towards 
St.  flolm's,  which  w  again  in  possession  of  the  English. 
Afti'r  some  time,  they  were  oliliged  to  raise  the  sieg(>  on 
account  of  want  of  })owder.     They  retraced   their  steps  to 


i 


"^7^^ 


KK) 


ECCLESIASTK  A  I,    IIIST(  )ItY 


i 


Forilldii,  Avhic'h  they  t'lipturcd  iuid  hiinit  on  the  ')lh  of  AFari'li  ; 
"after  wliii'li,"  say.s  Clinrlevoix  ("Xoiivcllc  France,"  Vol.  II., 
J).  .")()()),  "  Moiitiu'iiy,  with  his  faithful  Xescamhouil ,  went  'x\\i\ 
do!?troye(l  all  the  coast,  iiicliiiliuii"  ( "arhoiiiere  an<l  Hooiicvlslc."' 
In  17(1(1  the  liritish  apiin  expelled  them.  In  1  70(S  St.  Ovide, 
French  admiral,  took  St.  John's  and  all  the  Island,  e.\ee[)tinii' 
('arl)oiiear,  which,  as  usual,  was  gallantly  deiended  hy  the 
lishernien.  The  French  then  held  it  initil  the  Treaty  of 
I'lrcchi,  171.').  \\\  this  treaty,  as  is  well  known,  the  sov- 
ereignty of  the  \vliole  I>land  was  ceded  to  (Jreat  lii'ilain  ;  l)ut 
unfordniately  for  the  future  prosperity  of  llie  Island,  ihe 
French  were  alloAved  ciM'taiu  lishinu'  rin'hts,  which  have  l)een 
the  soui'ce  of  all  our  troubles.  The  Island  was  then  placed 
unck'r  the  nominal  administration  ot'  the  (lovernor  of  Xova 
Scolia.  In  I72',l  the  tir>t  izovernor  of  Xewfoundland  was 
iij)pointi'd  in  the  [)erson  of  Sir  Henry  Osborne.  AlthouiL'h 
the  ii'o\-ernor  was  nominale(l  as  connnandei-in-chief.  still 
the  (i>liinLf  admirals,  who  had  l)e(M\  eslahlislied  since  17()().' 
wcie  retained.  'I'he  conunis.-ion  also  imduded  IMacentia. 
which,  since  the  Treaty  of  171.").  had  l)een  a  separate  com- 
mand, as  a  dcj)uty  governorshi[)  under  the  (io\'ernor  of 
Nova  Scotia. 

The  siuninLr  ot"  the  Treaty  of  Ftrecht  pive  the  death-blow 
to  French  j)owcr  and  prcsti^i'c  in  the  New  World.  ''Had 
her  ministers,"'  wiilcs  1  )r.  Mullock  (MS.,  p.  -l-l),  "either 
ordinary  foroii^'ht  or  patriotism,  and  had  a  lew  millions  of 
the  wealth  sipiandered  at  \'ersailles,  or  woi'se,  in  vice  and 
infamy,  durini;'  the  reii'cncy  ami  the  I'ciu'u  of  TjOuIs  X\'., 
Iieen  expended  on  the  French  selllemcnls  in  America,  not 
alone  ('anada,  lail  the  whole  of  the  western  portion  of  the 
contiiKiit,  the  Southern  States  horderini:'  on  Mexico,  th(^ 
lower  provinces  of  New  I>runswick,  Xova  Scotia,  Newfound- 
land, and  I'rince  Fdward  Ishuul,  woidd  now  lie  French  in 
Mood,  lanii'uaue,  and  ndigion.  AVhat  rcdii^'ion  did  for  Spain, 
in  the  days  ot'  her  lilory,  when  her  '(Joldcn  lianner,'  sur- 
inoimfed  l»y  the  (Voss,  waved  over  half  the  world;  when 
(he  Spanish  soldier  and  the  Spanish  fri.ar  pcnet':  !ed  ton'cther 


OF   NHWFOUNDI.AXn. 


Ifil 


■  si  ,  5  I 

Cl- 


io the,  I'ciuotost  v\nU  of  the  ciirtli  ;  wlicii  the  fortress  and  the 
convent  rose  side  l)y  si(h',  —  slie  'would  h;iv(!  done  as  clfeet- 
iKilly  for  France;  hut  inlidehtv  was  then  eating'  into  the 
vitals  of  the  nation.  .  .  .  The  o[)[)()siti()ii  of  Louis  XI\'. 
to  the  I'ope  ;  tiu;  so-called  '  liberties  '  of  the  (Jallican  Churcii, 
uhich  favored  and  luirtured  Jansenism,  and,  sulise(|uently, 
develo[)ed  dininu'  the  ren'ciicv  and  tlu^  reiitii  of  liouis  X\'.  ; 
the  IViiiiitfid  inlidelity  of  Voltaire  and  his  associates, — lost 
to  P"' ranee  the  New  World.  In  her  madness  she  rose;  against 
God  and  apninst  I  lis  Clmi'ch.  and  her  liloiy  depai'tod  forever. 
It  is  only  once  in  the  cycle  of  aLi'es  that  a  nation  has  the 
power  of  estalilishinii'  her  reliiiion,  jier  lan:na<:'e,  her  laws, 
and  her  character  oxer  a  laru'e  section  of  the  human  race; 
and  no  nation  cNcr  threw  away  siu-h  a  s[)Iendid  <)i)[)ortunity 
of  doin^"  this  as  France.  IIci'  forts,  heii-inning  at  New 
Orleans,  imk  irclcd  tlu^  contracted  territory  of  thc^  thirteen 
original  States,  and  lo  the  north,  to  the  shores  of  l>aliin's 
I'ay,  tlu!  land  was  all  her  own.  Her  log  forts  are  now  great 
cities, — the  Sees  of  ]>i>ho|)s  and  the  marts  of  eonunerce  ; 
the  deserts  and  forests  where  her  (lag  then  waved  are  now  tlie 
homes  of  great  nations;  I)ut  her  sun  is  set  foi'cver ;  her 
language  is  there  no  longer  sjioken.  A  few  sugar  islands,' 
and  tlii^  islets  of  St.  Pierre  and  Miiiuelon,  now  {-omprise  her 
whole  transatlantic  territory.  Aliont  a  niillion  of  (  anadians, 
among  thirty-six  millions  of  Xorth  Americans,  s[)eak  her 
language,  and  these  w  ill,  in  tlu^  course  of  time,  he  ahsorhed 
in  the  Anglo-Celtic  race.  .  .  .  Such  is  the  state  in  whii'h 
her  parliaments,  her  kings,  and  her  encyclopiedi.-ts  hnw,  left 
her.  Her  glorv  in  the  Weslcrn  Ilemi>phere  is  departed. 
Forty  millious  may  hereafter  u^i>  her  language  as  their  vei 
nacular  throughout  the  world,  while  lOugiish  will  he  the 
mother-tongue  of  at  least  two  hundred  millions  of  tlu;  human 
race.  N'oltaire  and  his  satellites  sat islied  the  la>t  generation, 
and  mad(^  them  believe  that  inlideliiy  was  the  panacea  .ov 
the  social   evils  for  their  count I'v.      \ow  no   Frenchman  can 


Ciiv  t'linc. 


ill:: 


]('.2 


ECCLESIASTICAI,    HISTORY 


troad  (lie  soilof  Amtn-ica,  where  Iiis  lanirtiageaiul  nalioDality, 
excoj)!  in  a  small  ])ait  of  Canada,  liavo  iicrishod,  williout, 
i'celing  the  l)ln.s]i  of  slianio  mantling  his  t'licisk. 
AVithont  (h)nl)t  tho  great  Kevohition  was  sent  l)y  (Jod  to 
chasten  and  reinvii^orate  th(^  nioekinn-  and  frivolous  ucnera- 
tion  which  then  encninbered  the  s;)il  of  France." 


'i? 


a 


il 


111 


OF  NEWFOUNDLAND. 


1G3 


CHAPTER  xr. 


CATHOLICITY  AFTEIJ   TlIK   TIJKATY   OF  I^TRECIIT.  —  [1090-1728.] 

TrcMly  dl'  I'lri'c'lit,  1713  —  ( 'ondiiioiw,  Fi-riii'li  iillowiMl  Id  Dopiirt  or  Ixm'ouk!  r.rifish 
f?uliji'('l-i  —  ('iillidlir  l>i'li;;i(iii  |iuljlii'ly  l'r;ii-tisi'il  in  \i>svloiiiiilliiii(I — TIk"  l"i>liiiiyf 
Ailiiiiriils  —  0|i|Hisilinii  dl'  ilio  Mcrcliiiiits  to  tlic  A)ipdiiitnicii(  of  a  (jovcniur  — 
A|ipdiiiIiiicMt  dl'llic  I'iisl  (idvoriior,  Ciiplaiii  IK'iiry  <)~l)i)iiu',  17-.S. 


V. 


L 


^pill^  politic-Ill  liistoi'V  of  Xe\vfouii(ll:iii(l  (liu'iiii!:  11)0  l;ittcr 
-i  [i.'irt  of  the  scnciih'ciitli  cciitiirv  is  hut  ii  record  of 
obscure  skinuishcs  hctwccu  sniiill  (Ichicluncnls  of  Kiiu'lish 
uiid  French  :  the  only  reiuark:il)le  traiisuctiou  was  the  takini;; 
of  St.  flohn's,  in  17i)S,  I)y  the  French.  Tli(>y  retained  pos- 
session of  the  town  till  17  1.'),  the  dale  of  the  Treaty  of  Utnviit. 
Durinii'  that  occnjialion  the  CathoFu;  reliuiou  Avas  pulilicly 
professed  and  ])ractised,  l>y  the  ahovi'-inentioned  Irciaty 
France  abamloned  all  claim  to  the  Island  of  Xewfoundland, 
retaininu'  only  the  small  islands  of  St.  Pierre,  Lanulade,  and 
]Mi(lu<'li)n.  and  the  riulit  of  lishini;'  on  the  shores  iVoiii  Capo 
l)ona\i>ta  to  Point  Riche.  'Ihe  dominion  of  the  soil  was 
nominally  seciii'cd  to  Fn;.',iand,  hut  the  French  secured  such 
riu'hts  as  ha\'e  ever  since  clashed  with  the  luaintenanct!  of 
Pji'itisli  rule  on  that  c(>as(.  'l"he  Fi'cnch  were  tiMiarantcHid  the 
riiiiit  to  li>h  while  tor  r)i'iti>h  suhjects  it  was  only  l)y  the 
toleration  ol'the  l''r<'nch  that  they  could  exercise  such  a  riuht. 
The  l-'rench  were  allowed  to  dry  and  cure  their  lish  on  shore, 
;ii)il  to  cut  such  wood  or  houuhs  as  niiulit  he  necessaiy  for 
their  flakes  and  staii'o.  It  is  easy  to  see  how  such  rights, 
conllictiiiL;'  with  thox-  of  I>riti>h  .qilijcct^  settlinu'  on  I  lie  shore, 
wer(^  soon  the  source  of  insurinountahlc  and  ever-ini'i'casing 
difliculties  and  contests. 

According'  to  the  treatv,  Franc(\  though  ohtaininu'  full 
dominion  of  St.'  Peter's,  was  prohihiied  from  fortifyinii'  it,  or 
keepinu'  a  liarrison  of  more  tium  one  lumdrod  men  111)011  it. 


^'% 


164 


ECCLESIASTICAL   IIISTOKV 


Olio  of  the  Mvticlcs  of  the  treaty  Avas  that  tlu^  Catholic  rcliirion 
Avas  allowed  (l)iiL  with  the  sinister  jiroviso,  "as  far  as  tlu^ 
laws  of  (Ireat  Urilaiii  will  allow"!)  in  all  plaei's  ceded  hy  tlu^ 
French,  —  to  French  snhjects  who  might  wish  to  remain  and 
bcconu^  IJritish  suhjects. 

In  Ilannay's  "History  of  Nova  Scotia,"  \).  oOS,  we  read 
as  follows:  "On  the  2,')d  .hme,  171."),  nearly  three  months 
after  the  Treaty  of  I'trecht  was  siirned,  (^ueen  Anne  wrote  to 
Nicholson,  (Jovernorof  Nova  Scotia,  as  follows:  '  W'hei'cas 
our  (lood  Urotlur,  the  most  Christian  Kinii',  hath  at  our 
desire  released  from  imi)ris()inMcnt  on  l»o;ird  his  irallcys  such 
of  his  sul)jects  as  were  detained  there  on  at-count  of  their  pro- 
fessiiii;  the  Pi'otestant  reliaion,  AVe  beinu"  williiiii'  to  show  I)v 
some  mark  of  our  favor  towards  his  suhjects  how  Uind  wo 
take  his  compliance  therein,  have  therefore  thought  lit  hereby 
to  signify  Our  will  and  ])lcasure  to  you;  that  you  permit 
such  of  them  as  have  any  hinds  or  teiieinents,  in  [)laces  under 
your  (iovernnienl  in  Acadia  and  Newfound  Laud,  that  have 
been  or  an;  to  ln'  yielded  to  I's  by  A'irtue  of  the  late  Treaty 
of  I'eace  ;  and  are  willing  to  continue  our  subjects  ;  to  retain 
and  enjoy  their  said  lands  and  tenements,  without  moles- 
tation as  fully  and  freely  as  other  of  our  subjects  do  :  or  may 
possess  their  lands  or  estates  or  to  s(dl  the  same,  if  they 
shall  rather  choose  to  remove  elsewhere.  And  for  so  doing 
this  shall  be  your  warrant.'" 

Anspach  says  ("History  of  Newfoundland"),  speaking 
of  this  period:  "The  i>riests  piiblii'kly  practisi'd  their  sacer- 
dotal functions  as  if  jjojx'ry  were  <he  estai)rislicd  religion  of 
the  country.  Richards,  the  Kiiglish  ('ommandcr-in-Chief, 
judiciously  endeaxoiircd  to  aliridge  their  impolitick  indul- 
gences, .  .  .  but  was  not  siip})()rted  in  those  measures. 
The  iniluence  thus  oiKained  by  the  Church  of  IJome  was  the 
more  pernicious  as  it  was  in  the  hands  of  the  rFesuits,  who, 
ecpiaily  regardless  of  the  laws  and  interests  of  their  govern- 
ment considered  their  Mission  in  these  ))arts  of  the  world 
as  intended  merely  to  jiropagate  their  tenets  and  extend  the 
power  and  wealth  of  their  order." 


I  J 


lit. 


OF  NEWFOUNDLAND. 


in') 


iiiL 


"Tliis  io-norant  [jicc'c  of  TrotcslMiit  (Iccliinuilion,"  writes 
Dr.  Mullock,  "is  Viilii!il)l(^  as  :i  liistorical  record  of  the  puMic 
exercise  of  the  Catholic  reliirion  in  Xewfoundlaiul  ;  and 
the  biirotecl  attempt  of  the  iz-overnor  to  \iolate  the  ti'ealy 
l)y  which  he  ir'ot  the  ])o\ver  to  lidveni  the  Catholics  of  the 
Island.  .  .  .  Tlu'  attsick  on  the  Jesuits  is  only  another 
})r()of  of  the  lamentable  iu'norance  of  such  writers  when 
treating  of  Catholic  allairs.  Even  the  iri'ave  debates  of  I'ar- 
liament  display  such  iu'norance  of  Catholic  matters  (as,  for 
instance,  the  linlhi  Cd'iiic,  in  a  lireat  measure  identical  with 
the  connuon  law  of  Kniilaiid)  that  they  provoke  the  contem[)t 
and  diso-ust  of  foreiii'uers.  We  have  no  records  of  any  Jesuits 
beini::  settled  in  Xewfoundland,  and  if  any  came  to  the  coun- 
try, they  preached  no  peculiar  tenets  ;  nothing-  but  the  doc- 
trines of  the  Catholic  Apostolic  Church." 

Fn)ni  what  has  already  been  written  concerninir  Forryland, 
it  appears  that  documents  and  records  I'ccently  l)roui:ht  to 
liii'ht  show  us  that  Jesuit^  had  actualh' l)eeu  in  Ne\»foundland 
in  the  time  of  Lord  IJaltimore  (U')-2-]);  but  it  is  not  likely 
that  there  were  any  here  at  the  time  of  the  Treaty  of  Utrecht, 
nearly  a  century  later  (171;')). 

Protestant  writers  fre(|uently  confound  ;dl  missioners  of 
the  Catholic  Church  with  the  -lesuits,  whereas  tlu;  illustrious 
Order  of  St.  Iii-natius  forms  but  a  small,  thouiih  active,  part 
of  tlu'  Church's  army.  Xewfoundland  was  not  a  lik(>ly  place 
for  them  to  ])retend  to  s])read  their  power  and  inlluence, 
especially  after   its  surrender  to  the   Hnirlish. 

In  all  probability  the  i)riests  who  gave  such  umbrage  to 
(lovernor  Richards  by  legally  i)erforming  their  religious 
function^  were  the  vnvvs  of  St.  John's  and  Placentia  and 
other  settlements;  in  all  ]>i'obability  "king's  priests,"  as  the 
KecoUets  (P^-anci scans)  were  called,  because  they  sei'ved  as 
chaplains  in  all  the  forts,  shii)s,  and  galleys  of  the  French 
monarch.  By  a  royal  ordinance  the  Franciscans  were  obliged 
to  furnish  and  provide  one  of  their  own  Order  as  chaplain  for 
•everv  fort  containing  a  garrison  of  forty  men,  and  for  every 
ship  of  war  of  his  Most  Christian  Majesty.     The  friar,  while 


i*t 


ir.G 


ECCLKSIASTICAL    IIISTOHV 


.'H'liiiii- ns  naviil  or  luilitaiy  cliapliiin,  received  the  iip})()iiitinont 
and  rank  of  a  captain  of  the  line  and  (wo  hundred  livres  pei- 
annum,  one-half  ol"  ^\hich  went  to  his  convcMit.  As  (luMr 
occupation  interfered  with  llie  strict  observance  of  the  rnh; 
of  St.  Francis,  Innocent  XL,  in  the  year  KJS"),  i;ranted  them 
the  necessary  <lisp(Misat ions.  ( )n  account  of  llu;  sc;ircit\' of 
doriiy  in  the  vast  diocese  of  (Quebec,  Ihey  wvw,  also  ()l)lii;(><l 
to  send  a  priest  from  one  of  their  couNcnts  to  take  chai'i;c  of 
an_\  convent  becoininu'  vacant  till  a  cure  was  a[)poiute(l. 

The  French  popidation  had  no  u'l'cat  inducement  to  I'eniain 
in  iS'ewfoinidland.  —  looked  ni)on  with  an  evil  eye  by  the 
Fnii'lish  (ioNcrnment  ;  and  ha\inu'  no  iireat  faith  in  the  treaty 
l»v  which  their  rcdiiiion  v^as  liuaranteed,  they  in  most  cases 
disposed  of  their  jjrojx'rties  in  St.  JoinTs,  Placentia,  and 
Trc[)assey,  then  tlu  ir  i)riiu'i})al  settlements,  and  left  llu^ 
country.  Thus  the  Ishmd  was  once  auain  delivere(l  to  l*rot- 
estantism,  and  Catholicity,  aft(>r  tiie  final  de})arture  of  tlu; 
Frinich,  seemed  fori'ver  extinguished.  l>ut  tlu^  ways  of  God 
arc  inscrutai)le.  It  was  once  more  established  on  a  more 
firm  l)asis  by  Ii'ish  innuiirration. 

The  FniiTish  laws  and  Kiii:Tish  sentiment  oi)posed  ull  at- 
temi)ts  at  colonization.  The  I -land  was  reuarded  as  a  great 
shii)  moored  in  mid-ocean,  to  I)e  yejirly  manned  and  put  in 
conunission  by  the  fishermen  of  l^ngland  and  fhe  Channel 
Islands,  Acts  were  j)assed  by  the  Uritish  Parliament  (10 
and  11  ^^  ill.  III.,  Pii'S)  to  discouraire  settlement  and  cul- 
tivation. This  act  was  the  most  extraordinary  law  ever  passcul 
for  tlie  ruin  and  confusion  of  a  country.  I>y  it  the  masters 
oi'  {\n\/ir.sf  (/(ire  rrsscJ.^  ai-riving  in  thi^  Island  to  i)rosecute 
the  fishery  wei'c  investe(l  with  the  titles  of  admiral,  vice  and 
re.ir  admiral  for  the  year.  Thus  men  without  education, 
legal  knowledg(^  or  any  otlier  (lualillcation,  inunedialely  Ixv 
came  possessed  of  magisterial  powers  of  a  high  order,  ha\ing 
\mcontrolled  right  to  (lecide  all  matters  regarding  the  lishery, 
as  well  as  all  public  rights  of  a  civil  naturi'.  We  may  easily 
imagine  how  these  men,  bigotecl,  unt'ducalod,  and  cruel,  usedr 
the  uncontrolled  power  —  a  barljarous  enactment  —  put  into 


OK    NKWFOrNDLAXl). 


167 


their  hands  in  a  most  (yranniciil  iiiMiuicr.  Floiriiinuf  an  Trisiinian 
(wiiich  uuuh'  was  a  synonynic  for  a  Catholic)  was  a  conunon 
occurrence.  Hut  this  brutality  did  not  ceases  with  the  lishin>^ 
admirals.  As  lat(^  as  1.S21  lw()  men  were  iloiiired  in  Con- 
ception P)ay  hy  ()r(h'r  of  a  siirroiiatc  who  was  at  the  same 
time  a  Church  of  Knuland  j)ars()n.  'J'heir  crime  was  that  they 
fell  into  (lci)t  to  a  mercantile  house.  This  was,  however,  the 
last  time  such  barbarity  was  practisi'd  in  the  Island.  A  del- 
eijation  was  sent  to  London.  'I'he  allair  was  brou<:lit  before 
tlu^  colonial  authorities,  and  tlu;  suri'oii'ate  jurisdiction  was 
abolislu'd  forever. 

The  state  of  religion  and  morality  in  the  Island  under  the 
Kniilish  rule  durinii'  the  remainder  of  tlu;  eiuhteenth  century 
nuist  have  been  at  a  very  low  ebb,  even  judii'ini;'  from  tlu' 
statements  of  Protestant  authors  tliemselves.  Reeves  (p.  i'tfi 
and  srr/.)  (|U()tes  the  report  sent  home  from  time  to  time  liy 
the  conunodores  t(»  the  Uoard  of  'I'l'ade,  from  which  I  cli[) 
tlu^  follow  in_i>'  (A.I).  172.S):  "Another  of  them  says  the 
admirals  jjI'ovi'  j;'cnerally  the  tijrealest  knaves.  ...  It 
would  b(?  re(|uisite  to  have  a  civil  g'overnnienf  to  administer 
justice,  that  they  may  be  iioverned  like  liritons,  and  not  like 
banditti,  .  .  .  without  laws  or  ( ios[)el,  havinii' no  means 
of  ndiiiion,  there  beinii'  but  one  cleri^yman  in  all  tlu;  country." 
A<>'ain,  the  Hoard  of  'I'l'ade  I'cpresented  to  Jlis  Ahijesty  that 
the  Hisliop  ol"  L()n(U)n,  as  ()rdinarv  of  the  Plantations,  should 
send  a  cleriryman,  whose  salary  miiziit  be  pu(  on  the  estab- 
lishment of  the  garrison  of  Placentia.  In  Hill'.t  a  j)eliliou 
was  made  for  a  liovernor.  The  mattiM'  was  refei'red  to  the 
Lords  of  Trade  and  Plantations.  Their  Lordships  did  not 
think  tit  to  reconmuMid  the  petition:  but  tor  keepinii'  the 
pco[)le  liviuii'  there  in  Christianity  they  proposed  that  His 
jNIajesty  should  send  a  chaplain  in  the  convoy  ships.  ]Mean- 
time,  while  thes(>  ellbrts  wer(>  beiiiL;'  made  to  establish  and 
sui)port  tlu'  Prote.-tant  I'clinion  in  the  Island,  a  i:ratlual 
influx  of  Irish  Homaii  Catholic  jjopulation  was  impercei)t ibiy 
j)0uring'  into  the  country  and  takinif  deep  I'oot  in  the  various 
bays    and    harbors.     It  would    be    an    interesting    study  to 


mmmummmmm 


1  ■ 


1G8 


KCPLKSIASTICAL    IIIST(  »UV 


trace  (lie  oriii'iii  and  proiii'css  »»Flliis  silciil  l)iit  (ncr  oiillowiiii; 
siti'Oiini  of  iiniiiiuTalioii  :  l»ut  as  yet  no  records  have  Ix'cn  louiid 
to  throw  lii!lil  upon  it.  W'e  have  already  K'anie<l  t'roiu  th(; 
diai'V  ol"  Pcre  riaudouin  that  as  lar  hack  as  llilMl  there  was 
a  considerahh'  cohtiiy  of  Irish  estahlislied  in  the  country, 
csp(Hiaily   in  (  onceplion   Uay. 

In  lliTOwe  lind  the  Lol'ds  of  the  Conunittee  lor  Trade  and 
IMantations  conii)hiinin^'  that  many  ownei's  of  sliips  carri(>(l 
out  ])assenu"ers  cotih-dri/  to  the  hi'i's  diid  roiisft'/iif/ous  of  t!ie 
iishery  to  tlie  ureat  detriment  of  tlie  lishini:'  trade.  Tiiat 
many  owners  also  victuaUed  their  ships  from  Irchiiid  instead 
of  Knii'iand.  Hero  we  liave  a  faint  iiiimpse  of  tiie  oriiiin 
of  Irish  inuniji'i'ation,  whicli  was  to  take  such  (h'e[)  root  and 
to  play  so  promiu(Mit  a  part  in  the  futui'c  history  of  Xew- 
foundhind. 


\\ 


Th<>  pasi'e  we  are  now  openinir  in  the  annals  of  our  country 
is  OIK'  wliicli  we  would  fain  see  l)lotted  out  hy  the  tears  of 
the  genius  of  Terra  Nova,  for  it  is  hlotted  with 


•■  Wlioli'  |i;iuc->  of  sori'DNv  iiinl  sliiiinc." 

For  nearly  a  hundred  years  we  see  nothinii'  hut  the  meanest 
and  most  cruel  ell'orts  on  the  part  of  the  tish  lords  to  cru>h 
out  the  risinji'  life  of  the  hardy  little  colony,  alternated  hy 
weak  and  despotic  acts  on  the  part  of  the  liritish  ( Jovern- 
rnent  to  I'arry  into  execution  those  narrow-minded  and  sellish 
views, 

AVc  have  already  alluded  to  the  arltitrar}'  power  plac((d  in 
the  hands  of  the  fishinii'  admirals.  The  most  strinii'ent 
enactments  were  passed  to  prevent  hy  all  possible  means  the 
colonization  of  the  Island.  On  the  4th  Decomher,  Itit!.'},  the 
Lords  of  the  Privy  Council  wrote  a  letter  enforcinir  the  law 
"that  no  master  or  owner  of  any  ship  should  transport  any 
persons  to  Xewfound  Liind  who  were  not  of  the  ship's  com- 
pany, or  such  as  were  to  plant  and  settle  there.'" 

In  16(57  the  people  made  an  aiiitation  for  the  i)urpos(>  of 
obtaining  a  governor.    The  merchants  of  Totnoss,  Plymouth, 


\^ 


OF   NEWFOUNDLAND.  16!> 

D.'irlinoiitli,  etc.,  stfciiuoiisly  opposed  llic  inovciiKMit.  Tlicy 
wrote  1(^  (lie  Lords  ofllu'  Privy  Coimcil  to  siiy  lliat  "several 
])eivsoiis  upon  >pccioiis  piir|)oses,  iiiid  foi"  siii/'sfcr  ciii/s,  wen; 
eiideaNomiiiL;'  to  estnhlisli  a  govcnioi',  \vliicli  liad  c/irai/s  been 
j)cni/(/i)Ns  /(I  the  JisJici'i/." 

In  1(!71  tli(!  (|iie>lion  of  appoint  inn'  a  irovenior  was  iipiin 


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33  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER.  NY    14580 

(716)  872-4503 


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ECCLESIASTICAL  IIISTOIiY 


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CHAPTER   XII. 

RELIGIOUS  PERSECUTION.  —  [1728-1762.] 

Governor  Osl)ornn  —  Ilostilo  Attitiulo  of  the  Merchants  towards  flie  Projrrcss  of  the 
C'diiutry  —  Perseciitin;?  Enactments  of  the  (ioveriiors  — (Jovcnior  Dorril  (1755) 
Persecutes  the  Catholics ^('onliscations  and  Fines  at  Ilarhor  Maine — Capture  of 
the  Islaml  by  the  French,  17G2  —  Final  Reeapture  by  the  Enylish, 

IT  was  natural  to  suppose  thiit,  under  such  a  system  as  that 
of  the  lishiug  admirals,  tyrannizing'  over  a  tloating  popu- 
lation, crime  and  disorders  of  every  sort  Avould  })revail,  and 
that  without  ii  permanent  government  society  could  not  exist 
nor  soeial  order  he  estahlished  in  tlie  country.  In  1728 
Lord  Vere  IJeauelerk,  the  commodore  on  the  station,  nnule 
a  report  to  the  homo  Government  showing  the  necessity  for 
the  appointnuMit  of  a  governor  for  the  security  of  life  and 
proi)erty  ;  and,  after  cousider!d)lc  delay  and  investigation,  at 
length  the  tirst  governor  was  appointed  in  the  person  of 
Captain  Henry  Osborne,  of  II.]\I.  ship  "  8<iiiirrel," 

"The  merchants,  however,"  writes  Dr.  Mullock,  "coalesced 
with  the  lishinii:  admirals  to  render  nuiifatory  the  reiiiilations 
niiide  by  the  esttiblished  authority.  It  is  renuirkable  that 
in  every  movement  for  the  amelioration  of  the  country  we 
inv!irial)ly  liud  the  merchants  obstructing  and  ojjposing  the 
improvement.  In  172!)  they  upheld  the  rule  of  llie  lishing 
admirals,  and  opjwsed  the  establishment  of  a  Crown  gov- 
ernor ;  when  it  wtis  necesstiry  to  establish  law  courts,  and 
appoint  a  Chief  Justice  and  assistant  jiulges,  again  they  are 
in  ojiposition.  TIk;  establishment  of  a  colonial  Legislature 
found  the  majority  of  them  opponents,  and,  latterly,  the  prin- 
cipal o[)position  to  liesponsible  Government  and  Free  Tnide 
came  from  the  mercantile  body.  Their  interests  and  those 
of  the  peoi)le  v,'er(^  never  identical.  They  were  but  trtmsitory 
residents,  adventurers  strugitling  to  make  fortunes,  and  then 


OF  NEWFOUNDLAND. 


171 


leave  the  country  ;  and  among  the  hundreds  who  left  the 
Island  witli  millions  of  money,  not  even  one  was  found  to 
leave  any  permanent  mark  of  his  residence  in  endowed  schools, 
hosi)itals,  or  other  l)enevolent  institutions."  These  words 
were  written  by  the  enlightened  pen  of  Dr.  ^lullock  some 
thirty-one^  years  ago  (1)S5()).  They  contain  a  terribly  severe 
indictment,  but  not  too  much  so.  They  arc  the  deductions 
of  a  clear  historical  mind  from  the  study  of  our  past  history. 
The  pages  of  Chief  Justice  Reeves,  an  imi)artial  authority, 
tell  the  tale  in  terms  not  less  terrible  from  being  couched  in 
the  authentic  records  of  the  period  ;  and  at  the  present  day, 
after  a  lapse  of  over  thirty  years  of  modern  development  and 
enlightenment,  have  we  anything  to  mollify  and  erase  in 
the  strictures  of  Dr.  Mullock?  Alas,  no  !  On  the  contrary, 
many  other  counts  must  be  added  to  the  indictment.  The 
merchants  were  ()[)|)osed  to  the  construction  of  our  dry  dock, 
to  the  undertaking  of  railway  work,  to  the  opening  up  of 
mines,  topographical  and  geological  surveys,  and  such  public 
enterprises;  in  fact,  to  all  that  could  raise  Newfoundland 
from  tlu!  condition  of  a  fishing-station.  On  the  great  ([ues- 
tion  of  Confederation,  it  may  be  said  that  the  mind  of  the 
coimtry  is  not  fully  formed,  and  it  is  believed  that  we  may 
at  any  moment  be  brought  again  face  to  face  with  this  mo- 
mentous (piestion.  It  is  not  my  intention,  nor  does  it  come 
within  my  scope,  to  express  an  opinion  on  th(;  subject  in  these 
pages.  It  is  sullicient  t(.  remark  that  the  merchants,  as  a 
body,  are  streiiuon>ly  ()p[)()sed  to  this  movement.  This  fact 
should  I>e  of  great  weight,  in  connection  with  the  study  of 
the  attitude  of  the  merchants  to  our  country's  progress,  in 
helping  our  people  to  form  their  opinions  on  the  vital  subject 
of  Confederation. 

"Tlu^  mcrtliants,  then,  of  that  day'"  (1  728),  continu(>s  Dr. 
jNIullock,  "  banded  themselves  together  in  opposition  to  the 
appointment  of  an  Imperial  governor  as  an  inlVingcment  on 
their  rights."'  Oiu^  point  alone  of  union  existedamong  all 
parties,  — a  hatred  of  Catholicity  and  of  permanent  settlement 
in  the  country.    We  hear  but  little  of  Catholics  in  those  days  ; 


n,    I. 


'.I  • 


1 


172 


ECCLESIASTICAL  HISTORY 


in  fact,  thoir  oxistonco  is  only  nianifostcd  by  the  continuous 
series  of  persecutina-  cnuctnuMits  and  jjroclaniatioiis  levelled 
ajrainst  them.  When  there  was  such  tenacity  in  persecuting 
them  they  must  have  been  numerous,  for  the  <>ro\vin<ir  p()\v(>r 
of  Catholicity  can  always  be  ascertained  by  the  virulence  of 
the  persecution.  Each  govei'uor  in  succession  considered  it 
his  duty  to  signalize  his  tenure  of  otlice  by  a  bigoted  proc- 
lamation against  Catholics,  and  the  memory  of  the  many  acts 
of  tyranny  thus  perj)et rated  has  not  as  yet  faded  from  the 
minds  of  the  old  inhabitants. 

In  175'),  Hugh  Dorril  being  governor,  we  find  among  the 
records  of  his  rule  that  an  order  was  forwarded  to  Mr.  (ieorgo 
Garland,  of  Harbor  (J race,  to  apprehend  a  priest  said  to  have 
been  in  that  town,  and  to  send  him  to  St.  John's.  It  does 
not  appcMir,  however,  that  the  priest  was  captured  ;  |)r()bal)ly 
he  got  notice,  and  concealed  hiujself.  About  this  time,  also, 
a  house  was  burned  in  Harbor  Grace  i)ecause  Mass  was  said 
in  it.  A  proclamation  was  also  published  l)y  Dorril  against 
bringing  lloman  Catholic  servants  into  the  country,  and  a 
strict  order  is  given  that  those  brought  in  during  the  sununer 
shall  be  sent  home  again  before  the  winter.  About  the  same 
time  a  person  of  the  name  of  George  Tobin,  in  Harbor  Grace, 
was  lined  "  £10  for  inllaming  (\itholics  against  Pi'otestants  ; "' 
and  a  ship's  captain,  of  the  same  i)ort,  was  lined  IiUewis(!  "  £10 
for  hoisting  the  Irish  colours"!  Still  the  faithful  clergy, 
Avhose  names,  we  hope,  are  written  in  the  Book  of  Life, 
though  we  have  no  record  of  them,  did  not  desei't  the  ))e()i)le. 
At  the  head  of  Conception  liay  lies  the  town  of  Harbor  Maine, 
now  totally  Catholic.  It  possesses  a  eonunodious  church, 
dedicated  to  8ts.  l*(>ter  and  Paul  ;  a  convent  of  nuns  of  the 
I'resentation  Order,  j)resbylei'v  and  schools;  in  a  word, 
everything  retpiisite  for  a  Catholic  town.  In  tliose  dai'k 
days  it  was  otherwise.  A  priest  was  known  to  have  oll'ered 
up  the  Holy  Sacrifice  of  the  Mass  in  the  fishing-room  of  a  man 
named  Keating.  The  surrogate,  or  fioatiiig  judge,  heard  of 
it,  and  Keating  was  condemned  to  i)ay  a  lin(>  of  fifty  pounds. 
15ut  even  this  enormous  penalty  was  not  enough  to  satisfy  the 


OF  NEWFOUNDLAND. 


173 


^ 


))ifrotry  of  tho  colonial  iiuthoritios.  A  ship  of  war  lay  in 
Ilolyrood.  She  was  ordered  round  to  Harbor  Maine,  and 
on  her  arrival  there  fastened  her  hawsers  to  Keating's  tishing- 
staiie,  hauled  it  into  the  middle  of  the  stream,  and  set  it  on 
tire.  Xay,  more,  Keatinif  was  ordered  to  leave  the  country 
in  the  fall,  and  several  other  Catholics  convicted  of  being 
l)resent  at  tho  worship  of  their  fathers.  The  tirst  discoverers 
and  colonizers  of  Newfoundland  were  banished  from  tho 
country  likewise.  Wo  tind  subsequently  that  a  number  of 
Catholics  were  lined,  to  make  compent^ation  to  Keating  for 
the  burning  of  his  stage,  by  which  it  Avould  api)ear,  either 
that  Keating  l)ecame  reconciled  to  the  (iovernment,  or,  per- 
haps, the  local  authorities  saw  that  this  Turkish  system  of 
arson  could  not  be  justitied  at  home.  The  punishment,  how- 
ever, in  all  cases  fell  on  CathoHcs,  who  wore  obliged,  lirst, 
to  sutler  the  most  grievous  insult  and  persecution,  and  then 
iined  to  make  compensation  for  the  villany  of  their  per- 
secutors. The  Harbor  Maine  Catholics  had  not,  however,  as 
yet  expiated  their  oll'ence.  All  the  Catludic  servants  in  this 
harbor  were  tined,  and  the  amount  levied  on  them,  after 
deducting  charges,  fees,  etc.,  produced  £100  l-S.s,,  with  which 
a  jail  was  built.  Now  the  jail  exists  no  longer  ;  a  church,  con- 
vent, and  schools  sui)])ly  its  place,  and  the  people  are,  without 
a  single  ext-eplion,  Catholics.  Such  are  the  fruits  of  perse- 
cution. The  a>hes  of  the  burnt  tishing-stagc  a})i)eare(l  to 
have  jjreparcd  the  ground  for  Catholicity.  Another  registry, 
about  th(!  same  date,  informs  us  that  one  Kennedy  and  his 
wife,  having  cont"essed  that  they  were  married  by  a  priest, 
a  iHMialty  of  ten  pounds  was  imposiMl  on  the  husband,  his 
house  was  burned,  and  he  himself  ordered  to  quit  the 
country. 

Carbineers'  also  witnessed  the  persecuting  si)irit  of  Dorril. 
Two  Catholic  tenants  occui)ied  the  house  of  a  man  named 
Pike  ;  it  was  proved  that  Mass  had  been  said  tiiere,  and  so 
ral)id  was  Dorril's  bigotry,  that,  not  satistied  with  lining 
the  occupiers  £40,  and  banishing  them  from  the  country,  he 
ordered  the  house  itself  to  be  burned,  tlunigh  belonging  to  a 


174 


ECCIESIASTICAL   IIISTOIIY 


Protestant,  and  £30  out  of  the  fiiio  to  ho  paid  to  him  for 
coinpoiKsatioii ;  the  roinainiiig  £10  was  ahsorhcd  in  court 
chartr<'.s. 

Again,  Daniel  (.^rowley's  house,  at  ^[()S(|uito,  is  ordered  to 
be  burned  l)ei'ause  Mass  was  said  in  it.  Dy  this  retinement 
of  jierseeution  it  was  thouglit  to  sui)press  all  private  as  well 
as  public  worship  among  Catholics.  Little,  however,  did 
they  know  either  the  priests  or  the  people  they  had  to  deal 
with, 

(Jovornor  Dorril  next  directs  an  order  to  ]\richael  Gill, 
J. P.,  not  to  sull'er  any  Catholic,  nor  any  person  emi)l()ying 
Catholic  servants,  to  sell  strong  licjuors  ;  also  to  cause  all 
houses  built  by  Catholics  to  be  demolished,  their  land  to  be 
taken  from  them,  as  many  as  possible  to  bo  sent  out  of  the 
country,  and  those  who  were  permitted  to  remain  to  be 
deprived  of  the  use  of  lire-arms.  Obnoxious  oaths  were  also 
introduced,  debarring  Catholics  from  all  the  oflices  of  distinc- 
tion. The  following  is  the  form  of  an  oath  which  shotdd 
necessarilv  be  taken  bv  all  who  wished  to  obtain  an\'  ijosition 
"whatsoever  in  the  colony  :  "We,  .  .  .  ,  do  declare  that 
we  do  believe  that  there  is  not  any  T)'nnnul»tlant!alinn  in  the 
Sacrament  of  the  Lord's  Su[)per,  at  or  after  the  consecration 
thereof  bv  anv  person  whatever." 

These  extracts  from  the  public  records  show  us  the  lament- 
able state  of  the  country  at  this  time.  It  is  not  to  l)e  wondered 
Jit,  then,  that  on  the  breaking  out  of  war  between  England 
and  Fi'ance  the  whole  Island  should  have  fallen  an  easy  j)rey 
to  tlu^  French.  The  peojjle  took  but  a  very  slight  interest 
in  making  a  defence,  and  the  Irish  Catholics,  as  might  have 
been  expected,  either  remained  neutral  or  sided  with  the 
French,  —  naturally  preferring  the  dominion  of  the  latter  to 
the  brutal  sway  of  an  authority  wielded  by  such  a  petty 
tyrant  as  Dorril. 

In  IT.'jd  a  war  broke  out,  as  mentioned  above,  between  the 
two  nations,  which,  from  its  duration,  is  known  to  history  as 
the  Seven  Years'  War.  As  was  usual  at  this  period,  tlu^  war 
soon  spread  to  the  colonial  possessions  of  these  two  kingdoms 


OF  NEWFOUNDLAND. 


175 


«.» 


in  America.  In  fnct,  the  disturbed  relations  of  these  colonies 
conduced  in  no  small  measure  to  the  actual  breaUlMj^  out  of 
the  war.  The  boundaries  of  the  French  and  JJritish  posses- 
sions in  Xorth  America,  though  formini;  special  subjects  of 
stipulation,  both  in  the  Trealy  of  Utrecht  (1718)  and  again 
in  that  of  Aix-la-(^hapellc  (174<S),  had  not  been  yet  settled 
with  sutlicient  detiuiteness,  so  that  very  soon  there  arose 
complaints  of  mutual  encroachments. 

On  the  2tth  June,  17()2  (a  memorable  date  in  Xewfound- 
land  history),  four  French  men-of-war  captured  l>ay  I'ldls, 
and  landing  some  troops,  they  marched  on  St.  John's,  which 
again,  for  the  last  time,  became  a  French  possession.  From 
the  detailed  statement  of  the  arms  and  munitions  of  war 
captured  by  the  Fri'iich,  it  would  appear  that  the  fort ilicat ion 
of  St.  John's  at  this  period  was  upon  .a  scale  very  much 
larger  than  when  some  forty  years  previously  it  had  been 
taken  by  D'Ibcrville.  Among  the  rest  we  find  six  pieces  of 
iron  camion,  four  cast  mortars,  twenty-live  sea  carriages 
or  guns  mounted,  two  licld  pieces  mounted,  lit2  barrels 
powder,  1,(504  caimon  balls,  1,530  grape-shot,  JM^l  ll)s. 
musket-shot,  ()(50  grcMiades,  etc.  In  the  city  of  St.  John's 
there  were  802  persons  and  220  houses. 

On  Sei)tember  12  the  Fnglish  fleet,  under  Lieut. -Colonel 
Amherst,  arrived  at  Torl)ay,  "whence  a  i)ath  leads  to  St. 
John's.  A  party  of  the  enemy  fired  some  shots  at  tlu;  boats 
us  they  rowed  in.  The  tire  was  returueil,  and  the  enemy 
retreated.  The  i)atli  for  t\)ur  miles  was  narrow  and  rough, 
and  through  a  thick  wood.  .  .  .  "The  country  oi)ened 
afterwards,  and  we  marched  to  the  left  of  Kitty  A'itty." 
This  extract  is  from  a  letter  of  Colonel  '  mlierst  to  the  Earl 
of  Egremont.  Fronj  the  description  it  >*"i]l  be  seen  that  the 
army  kept  to  the  east  over  the  White  Hills.  'J'he  French 
were  lying  in  waiting  on  the  rising  ground  to  tlu;  south  of 
Kitty  Vitty,  and  here  the  first  skirmish  toolc  place.  The 
French  retreated  to  St.  John's  arid  the  English  ascended 
towards  Signal  Ilill,  wh(>re  they  encamped  for  the  night. 
Next  morning  the  English  cleared  the  Kitty  Vitty  gut,  which 


** 


176 


ECCLESIASTICAL   HISTORY 


111 


Imd  boon  cntiivly  stopjjcd  by  the  Frciu-h  siiikin;^  sliiillop.s  in 
the  |):issii<j:o.  "  The  cnoniy  IkkI  possession  of  two  very  hijili 
and  steep  lulls,  whieli  coninunuUHl  the  whole  ground  from 
Kilty  Vitty  to  St.  John's  —  one  in  front  of  our  advanced 
posts  and  the  oth(U'  near  to  St.  John's  —  namely,  Signal  Hill 
and  (laljows  Hill."  On  the  ir)th,  Captain  MeDcmell,  Avith  a 
corps  of  light  infantry,  dislodged  the  French  from  Signal 
Hiil.  On  the  Kith  the  French  abandoned  (Jallows  Hill,  and 
the  French  licet  quitted  the  harl)or  durinur  the  niuht  in  a  foix. 
On  the  17th  the  English  erected  a  battery  about  live  hundred 
yards  from  the  fort  (Fort  William),  which  completely  com- 
manded the  latter.  On  the  ISth  a  letter  from  the  French 
commander  (the  Count  D'llaussonville)  was  received  by 
Colonel  Amherst,  oU'ering  terms  of  capitidation,  which  were 
acccfited.  About  eight  hundred  prisoners  were  taken,  among 
whom  we  llnd  the  name  of  Michel  Chaplain,  thus  showing  that 
the  French  never  lost  sight  of  the  religious  clement  amid 
all  their  warlike  undertakings.  This  was,  as  we  have  said, 
the  last  capture  of  Newfoundland.  Since  that  time  it  has 
remained  a  liritish  colonv,  thouirh  the  French  still  retain  the 
rights  conferred  on  them  by  the  Treaty  of  Utrecht,  and  con- 
firmed by  the  Treaty  of  Paris,  which  shall  l)e  alluded  to  in  the 
next  chapter. 


•f 


f> 


OP  NEWFOUNDLAND. 


177 


•» 


CHAPTER  XITI. 


RELIGIOUS    PKUSECrTION,    ro/i/hmed.- [\7C,3-m\:] 

Treaty  of'l'aris,  17()3  — Its  Disastrous  HllVct  on  rninco  —  Persecution  ol'tlie  Catholics 
under  (iovernors  I'Hllisrr,  Shuldliain,  Dull',  ami  Eihvnnls  —  First  Irish  Missiona- 
ries—  lU'v.  Falliers  Cain,  Lonergan,  Daily,  Itourk' ,  \\  helan,  lleani,  and  A. 
Cleary. 


IX  the  year  170;}  tho  Seven  Yearri'  "War  was  hrouuht  to  a 
close,  and  a  treaty  most  disastrous  to  France  wtis  signed 
at  Paris.  Tiie  strnufi.de  between  the  two  nations  for  Western 
dominion  was  finally  disposed  of.  The  infamons  French 
Govcnnnent  of  the  day,  dehanching  the  jjcople  at  homo 
and  disgracing  them  abroad,  yielded  forever  the  territories 
ac(|nired  by  Cartier,  Chann)lain,  and  the  other  gretit  men 
who  iilanted  the  lilies  of  France  from  Xewfoundland  to 
the  borders  of  Mexico.  Bv  this  treat  v  France  utive  np 
Canada,  Actidia  (or  Nova  Scotia),  New  Brnnswick,  Prince 
Edward  Island,  and  all  other  dependencies  in  the  St. 
Lawrence,  and  resigned  all  her  title  to  the  territorial  pos- 
session of  Xewfoundland  ;  retaining  only  the  islets  of  St. 
Pierre  and  Miquelon,  and  the  rights  of  lishing  within  the 
limits  prescribed  bv  the  Treatv  of  Utrecht.  These  risrhts 
were  subsequently  (17JS3)  continued  by  the  Treaty  of  Ver- 
sailles, with  the  excei)tit)n  of  the  following  changes  :  ''  The 
King  of  France  renounces  the  right  of  tishing  between  Cape 
lionavista  and  Ctipc  St.  John,  on  the  north-east,  in  lieu  of 
which  concession  his  rights  are  extended  on  the  south-west 
from  Point  Iliche  to  Cape  Kay.'' 

The  free  exercise  of  the  Catholic  religion  was  guaran- 
teed for  Canada,  and  though  persecution  of  a  pett}'  sort  was 
often  resorted  to,  still  the  Canadians  were  always  able  to 
maintain  their  rights,  their  {)roxiaiity  to  the  United  States  giv- 
ing them  a  great  moral  strength  ;  but  it  was  not  so  in  Xew- 


178 


ECCLESIASTICAL   HISTORY 


foundlniid.  GoviMiior  (Jravo.s  rulod  tlio  coiinti-v  diiriiii;  llio 
French  war,  and  ho  appears  to  have  liad  his  hands  too  I'nll 
to  oi'cupy  himself  in  any  very  violent  measures  against  the 
Catholies.  Wo  only  tind  an  ordinance  of  his  calling  for  the 
lax  imposed  by  Governor  "\Vol)l»  on  Catholic  and  Irish  trad- 
ers, which  appears  not  to  have  hoen  regularly  collected 
during  the  troubles. 

\\\  17(12  Hugh  Palliser  was  appointed  governor,  and,  difli- 
cult  as  it  may  seem,  surpassed  all  his  })redecessors  in  bigotry. 
He  issued  proclamations  to  the  following  eflect  :  — 

1.  Popish  servants  are  not  to  bo  permitted  to  remain  in 
any  place  bnt  where  they  served  the  previous  sununer, 

2.  No  more  than  fifo  Pa])ists  are  allowed  to  live  in  one 
house,  unless  in  the  house  of  u  Protestant. 

J}.  No  Papist  to  bo  allowed  to  keep  a  public  house,  or 
sell  licpiors  by  retail. 


V  < 


Finally,  as  these  laws  seem  not  to  have  been  suiricionlly 
stringent  to  ivi)ress  Popery,  an  order  is  given  ''to  yixiW  down 
all  hut?»  inhabited  by  Catholics  who  induced  j)eoi)le  to  stay 
in  the  Island,  when  the  intention  is  that  they  shall  go  homo 
in  the  fall."  A  permission  is  granted  some  time  after  to 
license  from  eight  to  fifteen  houses  in  St.  -lolm's  for  the  sale 
of  spirituous  rKpiors,  but  with  the  jjroviso  that  no  Catholic 
be  allowed  to  sell  any. 

Again,  another  order,  even  more  stringent,  is  pul)lislicd, 
"that  neither  man  nor  woman,  being  Pa[)ist,  wiio  did  not 


tl 


U( 


d  t( 


serve  in  St.  John's  m  lUo  sununer  he  allowed  lo  remam  in 
the  winter;  nor  more  than  two  Roman  Catholics  be  allowed 
in  the  same  house,  unless  the  master  be  a  Protestant. 


Tl 


IIS 


we  should  sup])ose  to  be  sulliciently  tyi*iuinical ;  but  it  was 
reserved  for  Palliser  to  go  beyond  oven  the  [)enal  laws  of 
England,  and  to  improve  on  Turkish  barbarity.  We  find 
an  order  published  proclaiming  that  "all  children  born 
in  the  country  be  l»;ipti/.ed  according  to  law."  The  Turks 
re(juired  a  tithe  of  the  children  born  of  Christian  parents  as 


OF   NEWFOUNDLAND. 


179 


rooruits  for  (lin  Janissaries,  it  was  rcsorvctl  for  a  I^ritisli 
roloiiial  i^ovc'riior  to  surpass  that  I)arl)arit y,  by  ()!)li;:;ii\i2;  tlio 
parents,  not  eoiKpiered  slaves,  l)ut  frec-hovH  Hritons,  as  they 
were  ahsurdly  ealied,  to  jrive  up  all  their  children  to  tho 
ministers  of  tlu;  Anglican  sect. 

Diiiini;  the  years  1772-4  Governor  Slnddhani  ruled  tho 
Island.  AVe  iind  (hirinii  his  time  that  ii  Mr.  Keen,  of  liona- 
vista,  compliiined  that  an  I.ish  Papist  was  huildini;  Ji  li^h- 
in<r-room  in  that  place.  This  audacious  attempt  of  Popish 
cnterpris(«  arouses  the  frovernor's  ire.  Keen  is  innnediately 
orderccl  to  prevent  him  or  any  other  I'api^t  IVom  huildinj; 
tishiuLi- rooms,  such  proceediiii;  being'  contrary  to  tho  Acts 
10  and  11  of  AVilliam  III. 

(loviM'uor  I)uir  was  ai^pointed  in  177.').  The  only  record 
we  have  of  him  is  that  "ho  renewed  all  tho  regulatiousi 
against   the   Pa|)ists."' 

In  177!)  Kdwards  was  appointed  governor.  Tiic  persecu- 
tion against  Catholics  appears  now  to  have  slackened.  Wo 
no  longer  see  tho  jjuhlic  records  stained  with  orders  for  tho 
iMirninij:  of  houses  where  Mass  was  said,  and  the  l)anishing 
of  tho  faithful  for  assisting  at  tin;  worship  of  tluMr  fathers. 
Among  tlie  old  peoi)lo,  however,  till  lately,  traditionary  tales 
of  j)ersecution  lingered,  of  Hoggings  and  iiouse-hurnings  hy 
tho  petty  local  tyrants  ;  for  in  those  dark  days  Catholics 
were  almost  outlaws,  and  every  jjetty  magistrate,  when  not 
restrained  hy  terror,  considered  them  lit  suhjects  for  [)orso- 
cution. 

It  is  a  notable  fact  of  past  as  well  as  recent  history  that 
cvcrv  relaxation  of  the  lu'iial  laws  of  Enijfland  followed  hard 
upon  some  military  reverses.  The  American  war  was  tlicMi 
raging,  and  the  victories  of  the  Continentals  loosened  the 
grasp  \\\)o\\  the  sword  of  persecution  in  the  hands  of  colonial 
tyrants.  It  was  dangerous  to  exasperate  nu'U  who  could  not 
be  expected  to  retain  their  allegiance  to  tho  British  Crown, 
and  who,  incited  by  tho  oxami)le  of  their  American  neigh- 
bors, might  bo  driven  into  roboUion.  Accordingly  ojjon  and 
legal  persecution  was  abolished,  and  gave  way  to  a  kind  of 


180 


KCCLESIASTICAL   HISTORY 


m 


i  ^  i 


nifr^nnlly  (olerution,  nct'onipani(ul  hy  a  coiit(»mptiioiis  social 
exclusivcMcss. 

On  the  2  nil  of  October,  17S4,  jmrsiiaiit  to  the  instruc- 
tions of  His  ^Majesty  (icoriro  III  ,  directed  to  the  <rovernor, 
justices  of  tlie  jx'acc,  and  niairistratos  of  the  several  districts 
of  the  Isliind,  "  Mherty  of  conscienct^ "  was  allowed  to  all 
persons  in  Xewfonndlaiid.  and  the  "free  exerci>e  of  all 
modes  of  reliirioiis  worship  as  are  not  2»'f>/iih/f('<l  by  law, 
provided  people  l)o  content  with  a  quiet  and  peac(>al)lo 
onjoyinent  of  tho  same  without  giving  scandal  or  od'enco  to 
the  Government." 

This  toleration,  so  tardily  granted,  was  forced  from  tlie 
British  (Jovernment  by  circumstances  as  we  have  seen, 
and  shows  a  marked  contrast  to  the  method  of  procedure 
adopted  a  few  years  later  (1SI,'»)  by  the  Crown  authorities 
in  relation  to  the  despatch  of  the  first  Catholic  missionary 
to  Australia,  the  Rev.  Father  Flinn.  So  tar  from  being 
allowed  to  atl'ord  the  consolations  of  religion  to  the  poor 
Catholics  in  that  distant  land,  ho  was  arrested,  sent  to 
England  a  prisoner,  and  not  discharged  till  he  arrived  in 
London.  l>ut,  of  course,  Australia  had  not  such  a  ilangerous 
and  audacious  neighbor  close  at  hand  as  the  young  republic 
of  Anjcrica. 

Si)eakinir  of  the  period  immediatcdy  preceding  the  arrival 
of  Dr.  (Vlhmel  (1784),  Dr.  Mullock  writes:  "  I  cannot  Hud 
the  names  of  priests  in  Newfoundland  at  this  time  (though 
we  know  that  several  resided  here  for  a  short  period),  except 
Father  Cain,  of  the  County  of  AVexford,  wlio  came  to  Pla- 
contia  in  1770,  and  remained  there  six  years,  I  supi)Ose  a 
l)riest  nmst  have  resided  at  St.  John's  at  the  same  time  ;  but 
no  registr^'^  has  been  preserved.  An  Augustinian  friar  from 
New  Koss,  Father  Kean,  or  Cain,  spent  some  time  in  St. 
John's  before  the  arrival  of  Dr.  0"Donel,  and  it  is  most 
probable  that  he  was  the  same  person  Avho  ))reviously  lived 
at  Placentia.  The  Eev.  Father  Londrcgan,  who  subse- 
quently died  at  Togo,  was  also  ofHcially  in  the  Island  at  this 
time,  for  a.  complaint  was  lodged  against  him  to  Governor 


OF   NKWFOUXDLAXD. 


181 


Edwards  tor  innrryin_<r  ii  coiiplo  who  were  nmrricd  hcfoiv, — 
ill  iill  j)r()I)al>ility  two  Catholics  who  wvvo  married  by  a  par- 
son. Tiio  <;(n'ernor  thcMi  piihlisluMl  an  order  that  no  person 
shouhl  })(i  married  unh'ss  by  his  i)ermission,  and  after  the 
[)til)lica(ion  of  banns,  whieli  was  tantamount  to  an  obliL'a- 
(ion  on  Catholics  to  be  mariied  only  in  the  Protestant  Church, 
for  it  was  thL»,,  ah)ne  the  banns  eoukl  be  published  in  those 
days." 

It  is  im[)ossible  to  believe  that  the  Catholics  could  have 
had  any  sort  of  a  place  of  worshij)  in  those  days,  seein<r  that 
they  were  scarcelv  allowed  the  privileirc  of  piivate  dwelliiiir- 
houses  :  yet  it  is  stranue  that  a  foundation-stone  discovered 
on  the  demolition  of  the  "Old  Chapel"  in  Si.  John's,  and 
which  will  be  ajjain  alluded  to,  bears  the  date  of  1754. 

The  records  or  traditions  of  th(>  lives  ami  hardships  of  these 
early  priests  are  but  mcairre  ;  indeed,  of  some  we  know  only 
the  dates  of  their  arrival  in,  and  dei)arture  from,  the  Island; 
sometimes  only  tlu^  mere  fact  that  they  were  here;  of  others, 
wo  learn  just  enouirh  to  let  us  conjecture  how  they  strove  to 
keep  alight  the  flickerinir  lamp  of  faith  amidst  the  most  over- 
AvhelmiuiT  ditHculties.  They  came  and  went  joeriodically. 
We  hear  of  their  being  aboard  the  fishing  craft  in  the 
disguise  of  fishermen,  and  thus  escaping  the  fury  of  their 
persecutors.  In  AV  it  less  Bay  a  priest  made  his  escape  in 
this  way,  though  the  boat  on  which  he  was  sitting  was  act- 
ually boarded  and  searched  by  the  authorities.  In  Todd's 
Cove  a  i)riest  had  to  fly  and  take  refuge  in  a  cellar,  and  even 
there  the  poor  owner  was  afraid  to  harbor  him.  As  we  have 
seen,  there  was  no  mercy  for  those  who  protected  a  ])riest,  or 
connived  at  the  celebration  of  Mass  in  their  houses.  Hence 
the  priests  were  obliged  to  omit  the  celebration  of  the  Most 
Holy  Sacritice,  and  be  content  to  recite  for  the  people  the 
rosary  amid  the  rocks  and  w'oods,  as  was  the  case  with  their 
forefatiiers  in  Ireland.  ^ 


'A  larp-c  rock  is  still  shown  in  Renews,  culled  the  "Midnight  Rock,"  beneath 
which  tradition  tells  us  Fathci'  Fitzsimmon  used  to  assemble  the  people  to  rosaiy  and 
piayer. 


182 


ECCLESIASTICAL  HISTORY 


I        ^ 


I      I 


It  is  (loublful  whothor  those  priests  had  received  any 
jurisdiction,  and  from  whom.  It  is  not  likely  they  would 
come  without  havinir  been  in  some  maimer  sent ;  and  the 
fact  of  th'  beinir  obliufed  to  omit  the  celebration  of  Mass 
may  easily  account  for  the  tradition  handed  ('rwn  as  to  their 
beinii"  "  silenced." 

Of  the  priests  who  came  to  the  Island  before  Dr.  O'Donel's 
arrivid  the  names  of  but  live  survive,  namely, — 

Father  Cain,  or  Kean,  already  alluded  to.  He  was  a  native 
of  New  Ross,  (^ounty  of  Wexford,  Ireland.  He  came  to  New- 
foundland in  1770;  was  at  Placentia  for  six  years;  after- 
wards, pr()l)ably  at  St.  John's.  lie  went  home  to  Ireland, 
and  died  in  AVe.xford.  lie  was  ,  friar  of  the  Auiiustinian 
Order. 

Father  Londre<jan,  also  an  Auirustinian.  He  otiiciated  in 
St.  John's  for  some  tinu'.  He  also  was  at  Flacentia,  where 
ho  remained  three  years.  He  then  wont  to  the  north  of  the 
Island  ;  and  died  at  Fogo,  in  a  cook-room,  in  a  state  of  groat 
misery. 

Father  Daily,  a  native  of  Cork,  also  came  out  with  Father 
liondreiian.  I  liiul  among  the  names  given  by  the  late 
De.'ui  Cleary  those  of  Fathers  Power  and  ^Nlahony,  Augus- 
tinians,  who  returned  to  Ireland,  and  died  there;  but  I  have 
no  I'ortainty  as  to  the  date  of  their  arrival  in  Xewfou  dland, 
110/  the  scenes  of  their  missions. 

There  may  have  been  many  other  such  migratory  mission- 
aries, wlio  took  their  parts  in  this  prehistoric  period  of  our 
Island  Chuirh  ;  but  thouirh  their  names  are  lot  written  in  the 
pages  of  this  world's  hisloiy,  let  us  hope  that  tiieir  good 
deeds  have  been  all  well  recorded  by  the  Angcd  who  guards 
the  (Jreat  liook,  and  that  their  faults,  if  any,  may  be  blotted 
out  by  their  tears  and  sull'erings,  aided  by  our  sullVages, 
which  never  cease  to  be  i)oured  forth  amnially  for  thciu  at 
our  altars. 

We  have  a  more  extensive  sketch  of  the  lives  and  work  of 
•several  priests  who  arrived  at  the  same  time  as  Dr.  O'Donol, 
or  very  soon  after;  and  this  may  be  judged  a  tilting  place  to 


^ 


OF  NEWFOUNDLAND. 


183 


record  wliatovor  is  known  of  thorn,  as  received  from  the  most 
trustworthy  traditions. 

Father  K(huuiid  liourko,  a  native  of  Tipperary,  came  in 
178('),  two  years  after  the  arrival  of  Dr.  O'Donel.  lie  built 
the  old  presbytery  and  chapel  at  IMaeentia.  He  was  the  tirst 
reifidarly  authorized  missionary.  11'^  left  for  Halifax  in  1798, 
tlie  year  of  the  Irish  rebellion,  through  fear  of  Enulish  ven- 
geance, as  he  was  in  some  way  implicated  in  that  historical 
event.  lie  was  a  nephew  of  Father  Sheehan,  who  was  be- 
headed in  Clonmel  for  cr()}ipyism.  He  was  one  of  the  three 
priests  who,  in  1794,  siuned  the  petition  to  have  Dr.  O'Donel 
(who  was  then  only  Prefect  Aijostolic)  elevated  to  the  ejns- 
cojjal  diiiiiity.  He  was  a  Dominican  friar.  It  is  thought 
that  he  was  l)r()ther  to  Dr.  liourke,  the  first  Bishop  of 
Halifax.  lb;  remained  twelve  years  on  the  mission,  and 
worked  hard.  His  district  included  all  Placentia  Bay,  as 
far  westward  as  Burin. 

The  next  jiriest  whose  name  I  tind  mention  of  is  tiio  Rev. 
Patrick  Whelan.  The  exact  vear  of  his  arrival  is  not  known, 
but  he  was  here  in  1794,  as  he  signed  the  al)ove-mentioned 
petition,  from  which  also  Ave  gather  that  he  was  a  Franciscan 
or  Friar  Minor,  and  was  stationed  in  the  Mission  of  Harbor 
(inice.  He  was  (b'owned  in  17i)9,  and  I  am  indel)led  to  the 
Hon.  J.  1j.  Prendergast,  of  llarljor  (Jrace,  for  the  following 
graphic  and  interesting  account  of  that  melancholy  event :  — 


I 


"Father  Whelan  was  a  most  exeinplarv  and  zeahius  jn'iest, 
whose  name  is  eml»almcd  in  the  memory  of  llic  i)coj)lc.  Twice 
every  year,  spring  and  I'ail,  he  made  a  visitaiion  of  his 
parish.  It  was  wheii  returning,  in  September,  1799,  that  he 
lost  his  life  during  a  storm.  His  boat  rc-iched  Grates  Cove, 
and  in  attempting  to  land,  the  l)oat  was  swani[)ed,  and  all  on 
board  perisluHl.  The  Ixnly  of  Father  \\'helaii  was  the  only 
one  recovei'cd  from  the  waves.  lb;  was  foiuid  erect  in  the 
water,  his  Breviary  under  his  arm,  a  cane  in  one  hand,  and  u 
small  bag  containing  his  vestments  (prol)al)ly  the  pyx)  in 
the  other.     The  l)ody  was  taken  to  Harbor  Grace,  and  his 


184 


ECCLESIASTICAL  HISTORY 


sorrowiuir  people  laid  hi.n  to  rest  in  the  old  Ciitholie  grave- 
yard. A  luomunent  is  erected  over  his  remains,  on  Avliieh  is 
engraved  a  long  and  panegyrical  epitai)h  of  some  twenty-five 
lines,  extolling  his  many  virtues  and  noble  deeds,  and  tes- 
tifying the  atlection  and  esteem  of  the  tlock  for  the  memory 
of  their  faithful  pastor." 

Tliere  was  another  Father  Whelan,  also  a  Franciscan,  who 
came  out  in  1808.  He  was  stationed  on  the  mission  in  Fhi- 
centia.  He  went  home  to  Ireland  in  1810,  and  reentered  his 
monastery. 

In  1810  arrived  the  Kev.  Andrew  V.  Cleary.  He  was  on  the 
mission  in  Placentia,  where  he  died,  and  was  buried  in  1829. 
He  was  uncle  of  the  late  venerable  Dean  Cleary.  He  had  as 
curate  the  Kev.  Father  Devereux,  who  was  the  first  i)riest 
stationed  in  liurin.  He  built  the  house  and  old  cha[)el  there, 
and  is  buried  in  the  graveyard  of  that  place. 

The  Kev.  A.  Ilearu  was  also  a  curate  of  his,  and  succeeded 
him  (Kev.  A.  V.  Cleary)  in  the  mission  of  Placentia.  The 
Kev.  Michael  O'Donel,  nephew  of  the  Bishop,  came  out  with 
him  in  1784,  and  remained  in  the  country  till  18UG,  when  he 
left  for  Ireland. 

It  api)cars  that  there  was  also  a  i)riest  on  the  southern 
shore  at  this  time,  whose  name  was  Fitzpalrick.  The  life 
and  labors  of  other  early  missioncrs  -hall  l)e  briefly  outlined 
in  a  future  chapter.  We  now  ai)pr(>ach  what  may  I)e  con- 
sidered the  birth  of  the  Ciiurch  in  Mi  wfoiuidland  ;  its  final 
establishment  by  the  arrival  of  the  first  authorized  Prelate, 
Dr.  OT)onel,  with  full  power  and  jurisdiction  from  Komc  to 
j)lace  her  upon  a  sure  foundation,  and  set  her  forth  upon  that 
career,  advancement,  and  ))rogress  which  has  developed  into 
the  glorious  jjlenitude  of  hierarchical  life  which  we  enjoy  at 
the  present  day. 


OF   NEWFOUNDLAND. 


185 


CHAPTER  XIV. 


4- 


RT.  REV.  DR.  O'DOXEL,  I'REFECT  APOSTOLIC— [1703-1784.] 

Appoiiitiiieiit  (if  Fiillicr  O'Doiiol,  Fiist  Prcfof.-t  Apostolic  —  Stale  of  tlio  Country  — 
Hio^iiiipliv  of  Fiillu'f  O'Uoiifl— Fouiuliilioii  of  "The  Old  C'liiipul  "  ^  I'crst'culioii 
not  yet  t'oascil  —  lli^jfotoil  Coiuluct  of  SiirrojratL'  (.'aplaiii  I'l'llu  —  Extraoriliiiaiy 
CoiuliK't  of  (i<ivcnior  Milliaiike  —  Fatlicr  O'Dond's  Letters  to  Dr.  Troy,  Arch- 
bishop of  Dublin  —  l"rieni"y  Action  of  Ciovernor  Walde^jrave  and  Jnd^a'-Advocate 
Reives- (iriiit  liilhienee  Ai(|uired  hy  the  lii>liop  —  IlcC^iirlisa  Mutiny  anionj^ 
tlie  Military  —  Iieastly  Charaelcr  of  Prince  William,  Dnku  of  C'laionce  —  lie 
Assaults  the  Hisliop. 

WK  luivo  now  iirrlvcd  at.  what  may  l)e  callod  tho  modern 
Ijci'iod  oftlio  Efi'le^iiiislical  History  of  ^owtbuiulland. 
We  have  seen,  to  all  appearanee,  Catholieity  tlnuly  estab- 
lislu'd  ill  the  Lsland  by  the  Freneh,  proteeted  l)y  the  gnvit 
monareh,  Louis  XIV.  I>ut  all  the.sc  bright  prosjieels  failed  ; 
vet  the  ways  of  (Jod  are  inseriital)le.  The  perseeution  of 
tho  faithfid  in  Irehuid,  bringinjr,  as  usual,  ])oveity  in  its  train, 
forces  every  year  numbers  of  the  hardy  ehiidreii  of  that 
Catholic  land  to  seek  abrottd  thiit  reward  for  their  labor 
denied  to  them  at  home.  Tlu?  rude  and  dtmu'erous  oceupation 
of  the  Newfoundland  ti>heries  tem[)ted  them,  by  the  prospect 
of  ji'ood  wa«>es,  to  brave  the  diinuers  of  tin;  ocean  .nnd  the 
tyranny  of  the  i)etty  colonitd  ollicials  tmd  tishiui;  tuhnirals. 
Reliirious  persecution  was  for  ai»es  their  portion  at  home, 
and  iaitlil'id  priests  were  found  from  time  to  time  lo  cross  the 
Athmtic,  and  by  stetilth  atl'ord  the  consolations  of  reliiiion  to 
their  expatriated  c(>untrymcn.  Obliiicd  at  honu;  to  oiler  up 
the  Adoral)le  ISacrilice  in  the  lonely  mountain  glen,  or  in  tho 
obscure  cellar  or  ijarret  of  liie  town,  they  were  i)repared  in 
Xewfoundhind  lo  say  Mass  under  ii  lltdvc  or  in  :i  cook-room. 
Miiny  tales  are  still  current  nmonjj;  the  i)eoi)lo  of  the  escape 
of  the  priest,  when  some  cruiser  was  on  the  cotist,  and  the  cap- 
tain was  desirous  of  showinjx  his  zeal  for  tlie  House  of  Uruns- 
wick  by  the  daring  exi)loit  of       jturing  a  i)rie,st ;   and  it  is 


180 


ECCLKSIASTICAL    IIISTOllY 


gratifyini;  to  lisivo  to  remark  that  in  vorv  many  instances  the 
old  Kniflisli  Protestant  settlers  were  the  first  to  "ivc  notice  of 
the  danger,  and  assist  in  jiroviding  a  place  of  conec^alment  for 
the  persecnted  priest.  Catholicity  was  now  tolerated;  open 
persecution  had  ceased,  and  was  followed  by  a  system  of 
exclusive. less  from  all  public  situations  of  honor  or  profit. 

The  ])opulati(in  of  the  Island  ai  this  tlnu',  in  spito  of 
opposing  laws,  had  increased  to  somewhere  al)()ut  2;"), ()()(),  of 
whom  about  three-fourths  were  Ivoman  Catholics.  Amonir 
the  enactments  passed  with  the  intention  of  preventing  tho 
Island  being  ])eople(l  Avas  the  celebrated  Palliser  Act  of  1775, 
by  which  it  Mas  decreed,  in  order  to  insure  the  return  of  tho 
fishermen  each  winter,  that  masters  should  be  authorized 
to  detain  forty  shillings  out  of  the  ukmi's  wag(>s,  for  jyaying 
their  })assages  home.  Another  most  eilective  clause  was 
the  prohibition  to  take  females  to  the  Island,  so  that  at  this 
time  there  was  only  about  one-seventh  of  the  [)()pulation 
female,  or  about  3,500  ;  and  aI)out  one-fifth  of  the  population 
(from  four  to  five  thousand)  migrated  annually.  The  men 
who  remained  were  emi)loyed  only  for  the  half-year,  at  a 
rate  of  about  £."50. 

The  attention  of  the  Holy  Father  was  now  called  to  the 
spiritual  interests  of  the  Island.  Cp  to  this  ix'riod  it  was, 
properly  s[)eaking,  a  i)()rtion  of  the  vast  diocese  of  (Quebec  ; 
but  being  so  remote,  and  the  connnuuication  so  rar(\  the 
priests  who,  from  time  to  time,  visited  the  colony  acted  like 
naval  cha[)lains,  considering  the  people  here  as  if  having  their 
domiciles  in  the  dioceses  of  Waterford,  Ferns,  or  Cork,  and 
affording  them  in  Newfoundland  aid  on  the  strength  of  tho 
facidtics  they  exercised  in  the  dioceses  they  had  left  in 
Ireland;  and  the  transitory  state  of  the  poi)ulation,  and  the 
necessities  of  the  case,  would  appear  in  some  mcasiu'c  to 
iustifv  the  irreuiilaritv.  Thus  it  continued  till  the  vear 
17<Sf,  Avhen  Dr.  O'Douel,  the  first  Prefect  \'icar  Apostolic 
and  liishop,  arrived  in  the  country  ;  and  from  that  time  the 
Newfoundland  Chmrh  was  organized,  and  took  its  place 
among  the  provinces  of  Christianity. 


N 


\ 


..( 


OF    NKWFOUNDT.AND. 


187 


Ji 


This  fri'oat  and  jrood  man,  Janios  Lonis  O'Doncl,  was  born 
in  1737,  at  Kpocklofty,  on  tho  bunks  of  the  Suir,  about  four 
miles  west  from  Clonmel,  in  the  county  of  Tipperaiy,  in 
Irchmd.  His  father,  a  most  respectable  farmer,  was  a  very 
))ious  man.  and  liavinu'  iriven  him  the  l»est  elementary  educa- 
tion to  l»e  obtained  in  the  neighborhood,  under  a  domestic 
tuitor,  sent  him  to  Limerick  to  l»e  instructed  in  the  classics, 
toiretlier  with  a  voiniijer  brother,  ^Michael.  Both  havinu'  soon 
displiiyed  ii  vocation  for  the  ])riestho()(l,  and  also  for  the 
religious  Order  of  St.  Francis,  they  were  accordingly  received 
into  a  convent  of  the  Order  in  that  city,  and  in  due  time 
ordained  [jriests.  This  Father  Michael  O'Donel  never  came 
to  Xewfoundiand,  but  died  in  Ireland,  on  tlu^  2(!th  of  »Tune, 
17!)().  just  four  years  before  Dr.  James  0"l)on(d's  ai)i)oint- 
ment  to  tlie  I)ishopric.  The  Father  Michael  O'Donel  already 
mentioned,  who  accompanied  Dr.  James  to  Xewfoundiand, 
was  his  nephew.     He  lel't  the  Island  with  his  uncle,  in  180G. 

The  Irish  Franciscans  at  that  time  jjossessed  four  National 
establishments  on  the  continent  of  Euro})e :  Louvain,  in 
Belgium ;  IJonlay,  in  France ;  Prague,  in  liohemia ;  and 
Rome.  Dr.  O'Donel  was  ai)pointed  by  the  Irisli  Provincial  ji 
member  of  the  Prague  Connnunity.  and  accordingly  received 
the  habit  of  8t.  Francis  in  the  College  of  tlu;  Itmnaculate 
Conception  in  that  city.  He  ix'rformed  his  novitiate,  and  made 
his  religious  pi'ofcssion  ;  went  through  his  studies  with  honor, 
and  was  ordained  j)riest.  He  lived  as  cha|)lain  for  the  next 
few  years,  with  several  distinguished  families,  on  the  Con- 
tinent, and  did  not  return  to  Ireland  till  1775.  For  the  next 
eight  3'ears  he  apjilied  himself  Avith  zeal  to  the  dischai'ge  of 
the  missiouMry  duties  of  an  Irish  friar,  and  as  a  proof  of 
the  esleeni  in  which  he  was  held  by  his  brethren,  we  tind 
that  at  a  Provincial  Chapter,  held  on  the  IDth  of  Jidy,  179S), 
he  was  elected  Provincial,  or  Su[)erior  of  tlu;  whole  body  of 
Franciscans  in  Ireland;  having  been  i)reviously  Prior  at 
AVaterf)rd.  He  held  the  important  olHce  of  Pnnincial  till 
the  next  ChM[)ter,  hi'ld  on  the  22d  July,  1781.  Three  years 
jiflerwards  he  was  elected  bv  the  Holy  Sec  to  organize  the 


188 


ECCLESIASTICAL   HISTORY 


Church  in  NcwfoimdhiiKl,  and  was  appointed  Pror<'ft  Apos- 
tolic, witli  power  to  administer  the  Sacrament  of  Contirma- 
tion.^ 

In  17S4  lie  landed  in  St.  John's,  and  immediately  com- 
menced liis  labors  in  the  districts  of  St.  John's,  Ferryland, 
and  IMaccntia.  The  people  were  then  almost  destitute  of 
all  i)ractical  religion.  Tiie  absence  of  all  fixed  si)iritual  guid- 
ance,  thoutrh  occasionidly  tlu^y  had  a  priest  among  them  ; 
the  i)revalenee  of  drunkemiess  ;  the  lawless  charact(u-of  many 
who  came  to  the  country,  and^  the  abundance  of  money  in 
the  hands  of  persons  who  knew  not  how  to  use  it,  unh^ss  as 
a  means  of  low,  sensual  gratitication,  —  induced  a  de})loraI)le 
laxity  of  morals,  and  even  weakened  the  faith  of  many. 
French  intidcHty,  then  so  fashionable,  was  the  boast  of  those 
who  i)retended  to  enlightLMuneut,  and  inditlerence  toall  relig- 
ious ()l)S(!rvanees  was  connnon  to  all  classes.  Such  was  the 
howling  moral  wilderness  in  which  Dr.  O'Donel  conunenced 
his  labors.  The  English  (iovernment,  always  wisely  availing 
themselves  of  every  available  means  to  i)n'serve  and  con- 
solidate their  jjower,  not  only  sanctioned  the  residence  of 
Dr.  O'Donel  in  the  country,  but,  subscMjuently,  gave  him  an 
allowance  of  £75  a  year.  Yet  never  were  services  so  cheaply 
purchased  ;  but  his  loyalty  rested  on  more  solid  motives  than 
mere  temporal  reward.  French  intidelity  and  revolutionary 
doctrines,  as  remarked  above,  were  making  rapid  advances 
among  the  i)eople,  and  England,  though  not  bearing  any 
warm  love  for  l'oi)cry,  felt  that  it  was  safer  to  jiri'serve 
the  people  in  Catholicity,  as  a  safeguard  against  anarchical 
atluMsm.  It  was  better  to  have  t\\v,  Newfoundlanders  loyal 
Catholics  than  (Jallican  rebcds  ;  and  Dr.  O'Doiu'l's  intluence 
was  cheai)e)'  and  more  serviceable  than  an  armed  force. 

In  those  days  no  house,   nor  even  a   chinuiey,  could   l)c 
erected    without   permission    of   the    (Jovernor ;    nor   could 


'  Tlic  lalo  VoiH'raiilo  Di'iiii  CliMi y  stalfil  tliiit  Dr.  O'Doiu'l  first  (miiio  out  to  Xew- 
fouiullaiul  as  asiiiiplL'  priest,  anil  was  souu  al'tci' cluvatod  id  tiio  (iiy:iiity  ofl'i'd'cct.  Dr. 
Mullock,  liowcvcr,  is  more  lilicly  to  be  correct,  as  lie  hail  access  to  the  Frauciscaa 
annuls. 


i- 


'p 


OF   NEWFOUNDLAND. 


Ud 


I 


ziu 


Vr'^f 


lojiscs  1)0  granted,  unless  under  the  same  authority.  Dr. 
O'Donel,  tli(  ret'oro,  sought  perndssion  to  tuke  out  a  lease 
of  the  ground  where  tiie  "  Old  Chapel  "  afterwards  stood. 
A  lease  of  a  house  and  ganhni  was  accordingly  taken  for 
ninety-nine  years,  at  a  rent  of  £2S  per  aiuuun,  and  the  tirst 
Catholic  ehajjcl  was  erected  in  the  Island  since  its  cession  by 
the  French,  one  hundred  and  seventy  years  previously. 

Three  years  after  his  arrival  in  St.  John's,  Dr.  O'Donel 
writes  to  Dr.  Troy,  recently  promoted  lo  the  archie})isc<)i)al 
See  of  Dublin,  a  letter,  fnMu  which  the  following  extract  is 
taken,  and  which  thn)ws  a  light  u[)on  the  state  of  the  Church 
iu  Xewfoundland  at  that  period  '  :  — 

"  I  want  two  clergyman  more,  one  to  the  southward  and 
one  to  the  northward  of  this  })lace.  ...  I  send  for 
Father  John  Phelan,  of  AVaterford,  and  a  Father  McCorniack, 
of  St.  Isidore's,  who,  I  am  informed,  is  a  man  of  Uiorals  and 
powerful  abilities.  lie  wrote  to  me,  and  oH'cred  himself  for 
this  Mission.  He  has  made  three  P//('y//'^Jr7.s' in  the  tSapi- 
enlia  Ilnmaua.  In  default  of  him  a  Father  Yore,  who  like- 
wise otfered  himself,  of  your  (Jrace's  diocese,  if  a  man  who 
can  be  rcconnnended  for  irreproachable  conduct  and  ability, 
will  be  to  me  very  acc(>ptable. 

"BKOTIIEU  JAMES   O'DONEL." 

This  letter  shows  us  the  anxiety  of  the  good  Prefect  for 
the  sanctity  and  intelligence  of  his  priesthood.  It  does  not 
appear  that  the  leather  McCormack  nuMitioued  above  ever 
came  to  the  Islund,  and  as  to  Father  Yore,  his  long  and 
glorious  career  fully  veriticd  tiie  jjossession  of  the  (pialities 
desired  bv  Dr.  O'Donel. 

In  17(S8  a  letter  of  accusation  against  Dr.  O'Donel  was 
presented  to  the  surrogate-uiagistrale. 

'  Tlie  late  Most  Rev.  Dr.  Conroy,  Bishop  of  Ariliifrh,  ami  Dolcifiitc  Apostolic  to 
Ciiiiiiilii,  wliile  occupying;  tlic  posiiioii  of  Socvcliirv  lo  His  Kmiiii'iici'  Ciinliiiiil  ('iillcii, 
compiled  tVoiii  the  iiichives  of  the  iirchiiioce-ii'  the  hitors  of  Dr.  O'Donel,  wliich 
Were  piihn>he(l  in  tiie  "  Iiisli  Keelesiastioiil  Heconl  "  of  August,  186G,  to  whicli  1  am 
iuilehteil  for  the  extraets  ahove  cited. 


i 


11)0 


KCCLESIASTICAL   HISTORY 


"This  lot  tor,"  writos  Dr.  O'DonoI,  Xov.  lOth,  "was  not 
only  ro:ul  in  1i»o  court -hoiiso,  wlioro  llu'  .surrotriito  publicly 
(lonoiMiccd  l*o|)o  iind  l?()i)cry,  pr'.-sts  and  pri(>stcvaft,  and,  in 
an  (^'stasy,  blessed  this  iiapi»y  Constitution  that  it  was 
cleanly  puri^od  from  such  knavery  ;  but  also  carried  about 
this  town  by  him  and  his  otlicers,  to  the  great  satisfaction  of 
those  who  envied  our  lar^re  coui^roLration,  stated v  chafed,  and 
the  osloem  I  have  been  heretofon!  held  in  by  the  (Jovernor. 
This  surroirate,  by  nauK;  IVIIu,  of  French  extraction,  closed 
hJH  surroiration  to  the  admiral  with  the  "lodest  requt^st  that 
the  priests  should  bo  turned  out  of  the  country  ;  that  circu- 
lar letters  should  be  sent  to  the  magistrates,  that  if  anv  more 
priests  arrived  to  ship  them  olf  inunediatoly  ;  and  that  no 
priests  should  be  loft  but  where  there  was  a  garrison  to  keej) 
them  in  awe.  ^^'hon  1  heard  this,  I  waited  on  the  secretary, 
Avho  told  me  that  tlu;  admiral  had  made  np  his  mind  and 
adopted  the  measures  of  his  favorite,  Cai)tain  Pollu. 
I  drew  up  my  defence  ii\  writing,  waited  on  the  Governor, 
who  most  politcdy  received  mo,  entirely  changed  his  opinion, 
and  assured  mo  that  he  came  to  tliis  country  Avith  a  great 
esteem  and  regard  for  mo,  as  his  fiiond.  Admiral  Campbell, 
often  spoke  resj)ectfully  of  me  to  him,  and  that,  from  what 
ho  could  personally  observe  in  my  conduct,  ho  quittiid  the 
Island  with  tlu!  same  good  oi)inion  of  mo.  I  am  truly  a  son 
of  p'jrsecution,  and  a  child  of  porsocntion,  since  I  came  to 
this  country.      However,  T  could  not  sutler  in  a  better  cause. 

"lUiOTIIEli  JAS.    ODONEL." 

Although  the  Catholic  religion  was  supposed  to  be  t(de- 
ratod,  iind  liberty  of  worship  had  been  granted  some  eight 
years  l)eforo  (1782)  by  (fovernor  Cam))bell,  and  although, 
to  some  extent,  the  policy  of  the  English  (Jovermnent  towards 
the  l\oman  Catholics  of  Nowfoiuidland  was  chani>od,  and  a 
sort  of  i)rotection  was  accoi'dod  to  thorn,  we  are  not  to  sup- 
pose that  persecution  and  iiisidt  had  totally  ceased.  The 
following  extraordinary  letter  will  prove  that  the  old  spirit 
still  in  a  great  measure  prevailed. 


.^ 


«;•- 


01'    iSKVVFOUNDLAXI). 


1!)1 


».il 


i'*..' 


Father  O'Donol  applied  for  perniissioii  to  erect  a  few 
(•liai)els  for  the  <^ro\viii<^  po|)iila(i()n,  At  without  tliis  lieenso 
not  a  slick  couhl  he  laid  ;  and  so  deterniiiied  was  Enjj^land  to 
l)reveiit  the  iiuproveinenl  and  colonization  t)f  the  country, 
that  every  merchant  was  einpowcnMl  ])y  law  to  sl()[)  forty 
shillings  out  of  every  servant's  wap's  to  pay  his  passage 
jionio  in  the  fall ;  the  money  was  retained,  hut  many  of  the 
servants  forfeited  their  right  of  passage,  and  remained  in  tho 
country.  Hence,  in  s})ite  of  all  opposition,  the  resident 
pojjtdation  increased,  and  Dr.  O'Donel  mad(!  to  Governoi 
Milhankc  the  ai)plicati()n  al)ove  mentioned,  and  tin;  following 
is  the  characteristic  reply  :  — 

"The  Governor  acquaints  Mr.  O'Donel  that,  so  far  from 
being  disposed  to  allow  of  an  increase  of  })Iac('s  of  religious 
worship  for  the  Ivoniiin  Catliolics  of  this  Island,  Ik;  very 
seriously  intends  next  year  to  lay  those  estahlislied  already 
under  particular  restrictions.  ]Mr.  O'Donel  must  he  aware 
that  it  is  not  the  interest  of  Great  Britain  to  encourage  peoido 
to  winter  in  Newfoundland,  and  he  cannot  he  ignorant  that 
many  of  the  lower  order  who  now  stay  would,  if  it  Avere  not 
for  the  convenience  with  which  they  ohkihi  ahsolu/t'on  here, 
go  home  for  it  at  least  once  in  two  or  three  years  (  !  )  ;  and 
the  Governor  has  heen  misinformed  if  Mr.  O'Donel,  instead 
of  advising  their  rectum  to  Ireland,  does  not  rather  encourage 
them  to  winter  in  this  colony." — "On  hoard  the  'Salisbury,' 
St.  John's,  2d  November,  1700." 

In  a  letter  to  Dr.  Troy,  dated  December  Gtli,  1790,  Dr. 
O'Donel  alludes  to  the  above  event:  — 

"My  Loim),  —  OiH'  very  numerous  and  increasing  congre- 
gations have  brought  the  eye  of  \\u\  en(>mies  of  our  faith 
upon  us,  as  you  will  iind  by  the  enclosed  answer  to  a 
memoriid  drawn  up  by  the  peoi)le  of  Ferryland  for  leave  to 
build  a  cha|)el  in  that  district.  ...  I  wrote  to  Father 
Callenan,  of  Cork,  rccpiesting  him  to  use  his  intluence  on 
Mr.  O'Lcary  to  apply  to  some  member  of  the  Privy  Council 


1!)2 


Krf:u:siASTicAL  histohv 


to  provont  thoso  prejudicial  restrictions.  .  .  .  (MmiiiMls 
of  all  kinds  are  allowed  lli(>  unreserved  privilc'To  of  ii  chM'irv- 
man,  and  why  not  an  industrious  set  of  men,  who  ni'i'  inured 
to  the  hardships  of  the  sea,  and  r(>ady  ui)on  any  cmerj^eney 
to  serve  His  Majesty?  'I'lu^  tolei'alion  hitherto  irranted  is 
rather  an  encouraii:(Mnent  to  them  to  eniiirrate  than  a  dis- 
courairement,  as  the  jrenerous  monitor  supposes;  for  many 
of  those  hardy  fellows  would  never  obtain  their  |)arents' 
consent  to  cross  the  seas  if  they  had  not  the  consoliui,'  j)ros- 
pect  of  the  presence  of  a  cl(M<ryman  in  ease  of  sickness  or 
di-ath.  ^loreover,  tlu^  iniri'edienls  wliich  make  up  the  Sacra- 
ment of  Penance,  and  the  })rerequisites  o^  ^[hsolnfioti^  are  not 
of  such  easy  di<xesti(»n  to  a  set  of  fishermen  as  to  inducer  th(*m 
to  (JO  home  for  it  at  least  once  in  tiro  or  tJnre  i/ears!  1  really 
look  ni)on  these  intended  restrictions  as  a  hreacli  of  public 
faith.  .  .  .  Admiral  Camplxdl  sent  ji  circidar  letter  to  all 
the  justices  of  peace  in  this  Island  in  those  very  terms  :  'You 
are  to  allow  all  people  inhaltiting  this  Island  a  free  exercise 
of  all  such  modes  of  reli<;ious  worshi[)  as  are  not  prohibited 
by  law  ;  pursuant  to  the  King's  instructions  to  me." 

In  the  same  letter  Dr.  O'Donel  alludes  to  some  person  as 
C.  V.  — doubtless  Captain  Pellu,  above  mentioned  :  — 

"Tis  true,"  he  says,  "that  he  esm  act  as  he  pleases  in  this 
place,  as  he  is  king,  ))riest,  and  j)roi)het  in  the  Island.  The 
reason  of  this  prerogative  is  that  the  country  is  not  supjiosed 
by  law  to  be  inhabited,  except  in  sunnner.  In  case  of  war 
I  believe  none  of  us  can  subsist,  as  the  servants  upon  whom 
alone  we  depend  will  be  all  pressed,  and  obliged  to  become 
either  sailors  or  soldiers.  This  is  a  far  more  miserable  year 
with  the  wretched  inhabitants  than  last." 

On  the  8th  December,  1791,  he  writes  :  — 


"  The  Governor  most  faithfully  adhered'  to  his  promise  of 
representing  the  Catholic  clergy  of  this  Island  as  encouragcrs 


<' 


OF  NKWFOUNnLAM). 


193 


t 


of  (he  ]HH)\)\o  nMniiiniiif^  (luring  tlio  winter  in  this  country, 
contriiry  to  tlit^  intonvst  and  iulcntion  of  the  (lovcrnincMJt  ;  hut 
in  this  even  he  has  not  suct'ccch'd  acconlinir  to  liii^  niistiikcn 
zcjil,  as  Providence  ;jfui<h'd  th(^  steps  of  a  Mr.  Reeves  to  this 
country,  who  has  heen  appointed  .Iudge-Advocat(^  This 
trulv  irood  and  henevolent  man  wouhl  not  sutler  me  even  to 
exi)ostulale  with  the  Governor  on  his  foul  misre})resentation, 
ns  he  assured  me  the  state  of  the  Catholic  Church  should 
remain  unmolested  here;  and  it  so  hap])ened." 

The  clouds  of  pc'sccution  seemed  now  l)ein<^  dispelled  and 
the  sun  of  jx'ace  hurstinir  forth.  For  three  successivi;  years 
the  admirals  had  not  interfered,  and  Dr.  (VDonel  has  ;:frear 
hopes  for  the  future.  lie  asks  for  another  missioner  of  the 
Franciscan  Order  for  tluMlistrict  of  St.  Mary's  and  Trepassey. 
"It  is  al)s()hitelv  necessar\  that  he  should  speak  Irish."  He 
writes  aiiiiiu  on  Decemher  8,  171I2.  After  speakin<>'  of  the 
horrors  of  the  French  Revolution  and  the  l)arl)arities  of  the 
Jacohin  Club,  then  at  their  height,  all  of  which  ho  learns 
from  papeis  received  from  Europe  of  date  as  late  as  the 
2()th  Septemher,  he  says  :  — 

"Our  present  Governor  (W.  Waldegrave,  Esq.)  and 
Judge-Advocate  made  very  solemn  professions  of  friend- 
shii)  to  me.  The  former  returned  me  j)uhlic  thaidss  at  his 
own  tahle  for  the  uiu-emitting  pains  I  have  taken  those 
eight  years  in  keeping  the  peoi)le  amenahle  to  law  ;  and 
on  being  told  he  overstated  my  slender  endeavours,  he  said 
he  was  too  well  informed  to  think  so.  .  .  .  We  are 
now  at  perfect  ease,  and  restored  to  the  same  degree  of 
respect  that  we  enjoyed  for  the  tirst  three  years  of  our 
residence  here. 

"BRO.   JAS.   O'DOXEL." 


On  December  27,  1703,  ht  again  writes  to  Dr.  Troy,  con- 
gratulating him  on  his  pastoral  letter,  just  received  through  a 
Mr.  Bolan.     He  says  :  — 


.•  *-r-' 


I  J" 


104 


ECCLKSIASTICAL  IIISTOHY 


'  ! 


!  i- 


"Our  nflairs  ill  lliis  Mission  wear  ii  most  i)l('!isiii<;  aspect. 
The  (lovcnior  contimu's  lii.s  tVicndsiiip  to  mo  with  <;rcat 
wanntli.  I  was  tiio  only  iaii<Isiiiaii  who  diiKul  with  him, 
oil  \\\v  cvo  of  his  (h'parliirc,  al)oai(l  liis  eh'Lrant  ship,  where 
I  had  the  j  leasiire  to  hear  him  derlare,  in  tht;  i)resenee  of 
Jive  captains  of  tViirates,  that  thi^  Catliolics  W(n'(;  th(^  best 
sul>jt'cts  His  Majesty  had.  I  am  sorry  \\v  June  no  h)n,irer 
h'ase  tiian  one  year  mori'  of  liiin.  .  .  •  We  had  ">()() 
French  |)risoners  liere  (hirin^j^  the  snnimer.  Tiicir  olficer.s 
were  at  lilterty,  and  I  must  own  I  did  not  like  to  sec  llieni 
eomintr  every  Snnday  to  my  chapel  witli  larire  eml)U'ms  of 
intidelity  and  rebellion  plastered  on  their  hats.  It  was  much 
more  pleasinir  t<>  «»'•'  three  c()m[)anies  (»f  our  xolnntecrs, 
headed  l»y  their  Protestant  ollicers,  with  lifes  and  drums, 
comiiiir  to  the  chapel  to  be  instructed  in  the  duties  of  religion 
and  loyally."' 

After  ten  y^^ars  of  missionary  life,  workinij  and  oriranizinij 
ecclesiasti'id  matters,  we  lind  Dr.  O'Doncl  also  iiiiiratialinii 
himself  into  the  favor  of  the  civil  authorities,  and  jiiadually 
ac(juirin^"  that  inlluence  and  weight,  e-vcn  in  secular  affairs  of 
tho  colony,  which  has  ever  since  been  exercised  by  his  suc- 
cessors, the  Ivoinan  Catholic  Iiishops,  placinir  them  in  a 
recouni/.ed  position  of  the  hii>host  importance,  second  only 
to  the  representative  of  majesty  himself,  and  indeed  on  many 
occasions  causing;  the  latter  to  look  to  them  as  the  only  power 
in  the  country  capable  of  saviuir  it  from  ruin  in  <:rave  and 
serious  crises.  As  an  instance  of  this  we  may  hen;  mention 
an  event  which  occurred  just  a  few  years  after  Dr.  O'Donel's 
consecration. 

In  17!)',*  a  mutiny  of  the  military  stationed  in  St.  John's 
occurred  which  threatened  the  most  serious  conse(|uences. 
If  the  soldiers  had  been  joined  by  the  excited  people,  the 
whole  Island  mijiht  liave1)een  lost  to  Britain  ;  but  Dr.  O'Donel 
threw  all  his  intluence  on  the  side  of  authority,  and  by  pri- 
vate and  public  admonitions  cahned  down  tho  exasperated 
feelings  of  the  populace,  and  peace  was  restored.     He  re- 


OF  m;wk()i:ni)lani). 


13-) 


(H'ivi'd  a  reward  for  those  services,  which  shall  I)o  noticed  hy 
and  \ty. 

Another  eirciitiistanee  worthy  of  note  occurred  also  ahout 
this  time;  it  was  near  heinj;  the  cause  of  a  change;  in  the 
(succession  to  the;  r»rili>h  Crown. 

Prince  ^^'illianl  Henry,  Duke  of  (1arenc(\  afterwards  Will- 
1  '"  '.\'.,  w.'is  at  tliMt  linu'  a  midshipman  in  the  lirilish  navy, 
,1^  .  was  attached  to  the  Newt'oundland  station.  lie  was  re- 
iiiarkiiMe  only  for  heaslly  sensuality  and  cowardly  tyi'anny. 
IJo  caused  a  caipenter  at  Ferryland  to  he;  dismissed  from 
OoveiinuenI  employmeni  for  no  other  reason  than  that  ho 
was  a  l':ipi>(.  And  he  was  known  to  spit  in  the  face  of  Irish 
Catholics,  an<l  use  even  more;  beastly  conduct  towards  them 
(he  spat  down  a  man's  throat  in  IMacentia),  when  he  could  do 
so  with  imi)unity. 

This  j)i'oniisin<>'  scion  of  royalty  was  one  day  in  a  hilliard- 
room  in  St.  .John's  when  he  saw  tla;  Ijisjioi)  passing  along 
the  street.  A\'itlioiit  any  regard  to  tlu;  venerahh;  Prelate's 
ago  or  character,  he  threw  a  weapon  at  him,  which  fortu- 
jiatel^y  only  inllicted  n  slight  wound,  but  which  if  better  di- 
rected ■would  have  ended  the  Iiisho|)'s  days.  AVhen  this 
outnigc;  becinne  known,  the  wholci  Catholic  pojiulation  was 
aroused,  and  it  was  for  awhile  doubtful  whether  a  fourth 
^Villiam  would  ever  occupy  the  Pritish  throne.  The  Pishop 
used  every  exertion  to  calm  the  excited  people's  feedings. 
Meantime  a  guard  of  marines  was  landed,  and  th(;  Prince  ar- 
rested and  conveve(l  on  board,  and  his  commander  n'lost  i)ru- 
denlly  at  once  sailed  out  of  the  harbor. 

Many  other  stories  of  (piite  a  discreditable  character  are 
still  told  of  tlu;  disorderly  conduet  of  this  young  j)rin(H',  some 
of  which  also  nearly  cost  him  his  life.  On  one  occasion,  be- 
ing out  upon  some  midnight  raid  with  sonio  companions, 
either  removing  gates,  robbing  gardens,  or  making  some  at- 
temi)t  to  enter  a  private  dwelling  through  a  window,  he  was 
tired  upon  by  the  indignant  master  of  the  house,  but  escaped 
unhurt. 


1 


lOG 


ECCLESIASTICAL   IITSTOKY 


CIIAPTKU  XV. 

RT.  KEV.  nPv.  O'DONKL,  FHtST  BISHOP.  —  [1791-lSni.] 

Momovinl  (if  the  Clci'Lry  In  liavc  I'atlui-  O'Dniicl  iiiiulc  l>i>liop — •  He  is  Apimiiilod  Vipiiv 
Aliosldlic,  and  ( '•.iiiNi'cralcil  l!i-liop  iit  (^iii'l)cc  —  Lcltcr  of  I'.itluT  Vuri;  -  Aililress  iit' 
the  ^Icrchiiiits  iiml  ('ili/<'iH  nf  St.  .Idliii's  to  Dr.  O'Doiifl  —  llo  Vigils  I'liicciitiii 
and  Aihiiiiii^tcrs  C'oiiliriiiatiiiii  —  Diofo^aii  Siatiiti's — Lovaltv  of  thi'  Catliolios. 


rpiIK  ('iitlu)lic's    were  now    suHiciciillv   iminorous  nud   llio 


1 


1  I 
■  I 


l)()l)ul;iti()ii  so  ix'rni.'UKMilIy  ostjiI)lislu'(l  that  the  Holy 
Sec  c'onsidt'i'i'd  the  time  had  arrived  when  e[)isc()])al  suixm'- 
vision  was  needed. 

'J'he  j)riests  oi' the  ^lission  also,  tliouiili  lew  in  mnnltcr,  fcdt 
that  they  were;  on  the  eve  of  a  new  and  [)ro<>'i'essivo  era,  and 
that  the  (dexation  oF  their  noi)le  and  saintly  Prelect  to  the 
episeopal  diifnity  would  ijroatly  enhanee  his  ])ower  of  ad- 
vaneinjz'  the  interests  of  the  Church  in  the  Island.  Aecord- 
inufly  they  sent  .'  urirent  a]>[)eal  to  tlu^  Holy  Father,  the 
<:reat  I'ontill',  Pius  VI.,  Confessor  and  Doctor  of  the  Faith, 
who  then  tilled  the  throne  of  Peter.  The  document  was 
couched  in  Latin  of  some  (deixaneo  of  style.  I  considci'  i( 
ofsuflicient  iuiportanee  to  he  reproduced  here  in  th(>  oriiiiual. 
with  a  translation  :  — 

"  IIk.vtissiafk  Pateii  :  — 

"Cmn  inter  nudta,  ea(|iu^  prcelara  faeinora.  (juie  felieissi- 
nium  Sanetitatis  \'estiie  Pontilicium  illustrant  i\U\iw  exornanf , 
hand  niininmm  sit  tjuod  tideles  Orthodoxos  America'  Septen- 
trionalis  incolas,  panels  al)  hinc  annis,  niiruin  in  modum  con- 
solatus  sit;  lidem(|Ui>  simul  Calholicam  amplius  dilataverit, 
valdetjue  consolidaverit  per  j)rovidam  institutionem  primi  iilius 
re^ionis  I^pT,  Rmi,  nimiriun  Hili  Joannis  Carroll  I'^pi  Palti- 
morensis  ; — nos  infrascri[)ti,  tali  exeniplo  tanta(|Ue  heniirui- 
tatc  animati,  nomine;  nostro,  omniunnjuo  Catholici  nominis 
incolaruni  Insuhe  Terne  Novie  nuncujjativ,  provohiti  ad  pedes 


OF   NEWFOUNDLAND. 


197 


Siinc'titatis  Vostrfr  lumiilimc  dopivcaimir,  quiitenus  Clcmen- 
ter  digiietur  in  Epuiu  in.stitucre  cum  titiilo  in  partihus,  ot  in 
Vii-ariiiin  Apostolicuin  pra'cianiin  et  (liijni.ssinuun  Pi-et'cctiun 
Missioiiis  Xo.stni'  \l.  1*.  Jjicohiiin  liudovicuin  O'Doiiol,  Or- 
dinis  Fi-a(niiii  Miiioruin  de  Oh.servaiilia.  Hoc  sitjiiidcm  facto 
illud  pr()culdui)r()  coiiscciuclur,  ut  ct  maximmii  ipsi  li(!lii>:ioiii 
(MnolunKMitiiiu  ;  innciis  iu)l)i.s  soialimn,  ahpio  pcrcmic  Sancti- 
tal is  Vest  viv  dcciis  sit  accessunim.  Supcrvacanouui  porro  fore 
arhitraimir  Sanctilali  W'stnc  recenscrc  quain  utile  n()l)is  forct 
in  lanta  loconnn  dislantia,  Pastorcni  ai)ud  nos  liahoro  Eimli 
charactcrc  insio-nitiun,  ([ui  nuuiia  Kj)rdia  pro  lidcliuni  consola- 
tione  i)ossit  ohiro  sictit  ot  consulto  oniittiinus  culoiriuni  nicri- 
toruin,  i)rivclarissiini  \'iri  a  nohis  connncndati,  (jnii)po  cuin 
ejus  cxinii'V,  et  Sinufulares  Virtutos,  compertissiniic  jani- 
pridem  evaserunt  Saciw  Congregationi  do  Propaganda  Fide, 
((uare  de  suninia  dementia,  ac  pastorali  Solicitudine  Sancti- 
;atis  VcNlric  conlisi  in  osculo  pedum  Beatorum  prosteniimin-, 
Aiticam  Denetlictionem  implorantes. 

"  Datum  ex  insula  Tenu'  Novie,  Die  Vigesimo,  Xovem- 
bris,  A.D.  17:14. 

"Fv.  Kdnunidus  Bourke,  Ord.  Pred.,  Missionarius  Distric- 
tus  Placentia':  Fr.  1'hos.  Ewer,  Ord,  Min.  Strictioris  Ohser- 
vantia-.  Mis.  Dist.  Ferryland ;  Fr.  Pafritius  Plielan,  Or... 
Min.  8tr.  Ohs.,  Mis.  Dist,  de  Ilarhour  Grace;  Gulielnnis 
Coman,  generosus  incola  8.  Joamiis  ;  Dav.  Duggan,  idem; 
Ilenricus  Siiea,  idem:  Lucas  Maddoc,  idem;  Joannas  Wall, 
id,  ;  Timotlieus  IJvaii.  id.  ;  Joannes  Pmlger,  id.  ;  Micliael 
Mara,  id.  ;  dacohus  J\)\ver,  id.  :  Araitinus  Del:niey,  id.  ;  Pa- 
tricius  Power,  id.  :  (iuliclmus  .Muilowney,  generosus  incola 
Districtus  de  Ilarhour  (irace  :  Joannes  (Quarry,  idem; 
Demetrius  IIart(>ry,  id.:  Jacoh.  Sliorfall,  id.  Ferryland; 
Joannes  Coady,  id.  ;  Joannes  Powi'r,  id.  de  Magna  Pla- 
centia ;    Joannes   Kearne\  ,  id.  de    Parva    Placentia.' 


"Most  Holy  Fatiirij  :  — 

"  Since,    among   the  many   and    remarkahle   events   which 
illustrate  and  itdorn  the  glorious  I'ontilicate  of  Your  Holi- 


198 


ECCLESIASTICAL   HISTORY 


ncss,  that  is  not  llio  least  that  in  a  wonderful  maimer  you  have 
consoled  tlio  faithful  people  of  North  Ameriea,  and  have  at 
the  same  time  si)read  abroad  more  fully  the  Catholic  Faith, 
and  greatly  streiiirthened  the  same  ))y  the  thoughtful  estah- 
lishmeut  of  the  Hrst  r)is]ioi)  of  that  rcaion,  namely,  the 
Most  llev,  John  Carroll,  liishop  of  Baltimore. 

"We,  the  undcrsiirned,  animated  by  such  an  example  and 
sueh  bi-nignity,  in  our  own  lunnes,  and  the  names  of  all  the 
Catholics  of  Newfoundland,  prostrate  at  the  feet  of  Vour 
Holiness,  most  lunubly  ])ray  that  you  would  graciously 
deign  to  appoint,  as  Bishop,  with  a  title  hi  jxirfihus,  and  as 
Vicar  .Vpostolic,  the  ilhistrious  and  most  worthy  Prefect  of 
our  Mission,  the  Rev.  Father  .Tames  I^ouis  O'Donel,  of  the 
Order  of  Friars  !Minor  of  the  Observance.  The  ri'sult  of 
such  an  act  would  1)(>  without  doubt  a  great  advantage  to' 
religion,  an  innnense  consolation  to  us,  and  an  eternal  glory 
to  Your  Holiness. 

'' Jt  is  altogether  uimecessai'v  for  us  to  slate  how  useful  it 
would  be  to  us  at  such  a  distant  place  to  have  among  us  a 
Pastor  endow<'(l  with  the  Kpisco|)al  character,  who  could 
exercise  Fpiscoj)al  functions  lor  the  consolation  of  the  faith- 
fid.  So.  also,  w(!  pur[)osely  omit  any  praise  of  the  merits 
of  this  most  noble  man  commended  by  us,  inasuuich  as  his 
bright  and  singular  virtues  are  ali'cady  well  known  to  the 
Sacred  Congregation  of  Propaganda  Fide.  Hence,  contid- 
ing  in  the  sui)rem(;  clenuuicy  and  j)astoral  solicitude  of 
^'our  Holiness,  wc;  again  prostrate  ourselves  in  si)irit,  and 
kiss  the  feet  ol'  Vour  Holiness,  beuiriui!:  vour  Apostolic 
blessing. 

''(liven  at  \ewfoun<lland,  the  iiJOtli  day  of  November, 
A.l).  17iH. 

''  lirother  Eduumd  I)Ourke,  Dominican  Friar,  Missionary 
of  Placentia  ;  IJrother  Thomas  Ewer,  Franciscan  ^Missionary 
of  Ferryland  ;  lirother  Patrick  Plielau,  l-'rauciscan.  Harbor 
Grace;  William  Conian,  gentleman  inhabitant  of  St.  John's; 
David  Dugiran,  do.  ;  Henry  Shea,  do.  ;  Luke  Maddoc,  do.  ; 
John  Wall,   do.  ;   Tinu)thy    Ivyan,    do.  ;   John   Bulger,  do.  ; 


J 


OF   NEWFOUNDLAND. 


199 


Michael  Mara,  do.  ;  James  Power,  do.  ;  Martin  Delaney, 
do.  ;  I'iitricU  Power,  do.  ;  William  ^Iidlowney,  j^entleman 
iiihahitaiit  of  (he  District  of  Harbour  Grace  ;  John  (Quarry, 
do.  ;  Demetrius  Ilartery,  do.  ;  James  Shortall,  do.,  of  Ferry- 
land  ;  John  Cody,  do.  ;  John  Power,  do.,  of  Great  Placeutiu  ; 
John  Kearney,  do.,  of  Little  Placentia." 


Though  the  memorial  bears  the  siirnatures  of  but  three 
priests.  —  Fathers  Bourke,  Placentia;  Yore,  Ferryliuid  ;  and 
Patrick  Plielan,  Harbor  Cirace,  —  yet  we  know  b(>\'ond  a 
possible  doubt  that  there  were  others  in  the  Island  at  that 
time,  namely,  Dr.  O'Donel's  nephew.  Father  Michael 
O'Donel,  who,  perhaps  through  a  sense  of  delicacy,  did  not 
sign  it  ;  also  Father  Fitzpatrick  and  Father  John  AN'helan. 
It  may  1)e  that  thest^  fathers  were  in  some  distant  missions  at 
the  time,  and  could  not  be  reached.  The  names  of  many 
of  the  laymen  who  signed  the  i)etition  ai'e  still  flourishing 
among  us  in  their  descendants.  Among  the  rest  may  be 
noticed  the  father  of  Sir  Ambrose  oliea,  lately  honored  by 
the  Home  (Joxcrnment  by  being  a})})ointed  the  liist  native 
Govei'nor  of  Newfoundland.' 

Th((  urgent  appeal  was  responded  to  with  cordiality  by 
the  Holy  Pont  ill",  and  the  customary  Ikdls  were  expedited 
for  the  consecration  of  flames  Louis  O'Donel  as  P)ish()p, 
Avith  the  title  of  TJn/(it!va  in  parlihus  iii/idr/iiiiii,  and  at  the 
same  time  Ik;  was  ap[)ointed  N'icar  Apostolic  of  Newfound- 
land. I'he  liull  is  dated  ath  of  Jaimary,  IT'.t!,  which,  owing 
to  the  diliiculties  of  commmiieation,  and  the  necessary  pre- 
liminaries to  be  gone  tiirough.  cannot  be  considered  a  very 
long  interval  from  the  date  of  the  memorial  of  tlie  clergy 
and  people.  Il  is  quite  ])robable  the  memorial  did  not  reach 
liome  till  lale  in  the  sunnn<'r  of  17!)'). 

The  nearest  [)lacc  where  he  could  obtain  episcojjal  conse- 


'  Altli(>iii:li,  owin;^  to  ('irciiin-^liiiicc-:  imt  ihmcssiiiv  In  !h'  cxplaiin'il  In  re,  tiiis 
apiioiutnu'iit  was  ciiiii'i'llcd,  yet  llio  mciil'^  of  the  worthy  ;;c'iilU'm!iii  were  acUiiowl- 
I'd^i'il  liy  liis  Iwin^r  ai)i)i)iiilo(l  (Jovcriioi'  of  the  Haliaiiias.  So  lie  U  really  tlic  lirst 
NowfouiuUaiuk'i'  houoreil  with  a  colonial  govenioisliip. 


200 


ECCLESIASTICAL   HISTORY 


iM 


cration  in  those  days  was  QuoIuh-  ;  and  accord inirly  lio  was 
consecrated  in  tlic  cathedral  of  that  city  hy  the  diocesan 
Bishop,  the  Kt.  Rev.  Francis  IIuI)ert,  two  i)riests,  the 
Revs.  Messieurs  Grave  and  Desjardins,  assisting  hy  dis- 
pensation, in  lieu  of  two  Bishops,  as  prescribed  hy  the 
Rubric.  This  ceremony,  so  inii)ortant  to  the  Church  of 
Newfoundland,  took  [jlace  on  the  feast  of  St.  Matthew,  21st 
September,  17!)(). 

The  foUowini^  is  a  cojiy  of  the  certiticate  of  the  conse- 
cration of  Dr.  O'Donel,  taken  from  the  original,  which  is 
preserved  in  the  archives  of  C^uebec,  together  with  the  sig- 
nature of  the  Secretary  and  Chancellor,  of  the  Archl)isl!op, 
and  also  the  authentitication  of  Very  Rev.  Canon  Langevin, 
in  sendini;:  the  document  to  Dr.  Mullock  :  — 


"Joannes  Franciscus  IIubekt,  Misekatione   Divina 

ET    SCT.K    SkDIS    Ai'LC.E    GhATIA. 
"El'KSCOrUS    QUKBECENSIS. 


"Notum  facimus  nniversis  (juod  Die  Vigesinia  primPi  ^len- 
sis  Septembris  in  Natalitio  S.  INIatthici  Apostoli  et  Evangcil- 
isttv,  in  EcclesiTi  Xoslra  Catliedrali  acciti.s  ct  in  hoc  nobis 
assistentibus  loco  Episcoi)oruin,  du()l)us  Presbyteris  Sa'cu- 
laribus,  Magistris  Videlicet  Henrico  Francisco  (Jrave  et 
Philippo  Joanne  Ludovico  Desjardins,  Vicariis  Xoslris  (Jene- 
ralibiis  juxta  si)ecialem  licentiam  a  S'"  Sede  A})ost()licri 
concessam,  \os,  lUustrissimo  et  Reverendissimo  I).  D. 
Jacobo  Ludovico  O'Donell,  Presl)vtero  Reirulari  Ordinis 
Minorum  S.  Francisci  Observantium  Nuncupati,  Elecfo  et 
Coniirmato  Thyatirensi,  nninus  Consecrationis  Episcoi)alis 
.secundum  P»ullas  Ajjostolicas  ipsi  datas  Roma>  apud  Sanctum 
Pelrum  die  (^uinla  Jaiuiarii  pra'sentis  Amii  17l)(),  I'onlili- 
catus,  S.S.D.X.  I'ii  Pai)a'  \'I.,  Amio  21°;  —  ritu  coiisueto 
et  ))ra'slitis  juramentis  assuetis,  ini[)eiidinms ;  euniquc  in 
Episcopum  Thyatirenseni  Consccavinuis  die  et  aiuio  (jubis 
supra,   prcscnsciue    instrunientum    Signo   Xostro    Sigillocjuo 


' 


OF   NEWFOUNDLAND. 


201 


'■ 


V. 


Diocccsls,     ac     Sccrctarii     Nostri     subscriptioni     coniimuii- 
vimiis. 

"  + JOANNES  FKAXe, 

J:Jjms  Qiiehecensis. 


"L.+S. 


"  De  mandato  lUiTii  ac  RcviTii  D.  D.  Quoheeensis  Episeopi. 

"J.  ().  PLESSIS,  r"-e, 

"  iSecretarius. 

"  Eiro  Infra  scriptus  tostifieo    prescntom  transcriptuin  con- 
cordarc  ruin  oriirinali,  (^nclu'ci  die  20'  fchruarii,  18r>4. 
'XSignatmn)  ^  EDMONDUS  LAXtiEVIX,  P.— D.I)., 

"Quebec  Arcliit'JjL  SecriuH." 

The  following  is  an  oxtract  fi'oni  the  Bull  or"  Nomination 
of  Dr.  O'Donol  iiivini;  the  title  of  his  See  in  jntrflhus:  — 

"  Exeer[)tuni  ex  Hidlis  datis  Die  5  Jiinuarii,  17iM). 
Ecelesia  E})iseoi)aIis  Thyatirensis  in  Lydia  sub-Arehie[)o  Sar- 
diano  (jua*  in  parlihus  eonsistit  inlideliuni,  ])er  translationeni 
Vefibis   Endris  Franeisei   Zaverii,   ultinii  illius  Episeopi  ad 
Eeelesiani  Ciduiensem." 

Innnediately  after  his  appointment,  Dr.  O'Donel  wrote  a 
letter  of  thanks  to  the  Propauanda.  He  also  wrote  to  Dr. 
'i'roy,  from  St.  John's,  Novemi)er  25,  17i)4  (whieh  seems 
to  be  a  mistaUe  for  17!Hi).  The  followini!;  extract  will  give 
an  idea  of  the  state  of  the  country  at  that  time  :  — 

■'My  Loi;I),  —  The  vessel  that  brought  out  the  Holy  Oils 
from  Ireland  had  ])een  captured  by  a  French  frigate,  but 
afterwards  they  arrived  safe,  being  re-tal-en."  He  is  now 
in  his  tifty-sixth  year.  "  I  went  (o  Ferryland,  oidy  fourteen 
leagues  from  this  place,  last  June  ;  was  blown  out  to  sea  for 
three  days.  During  the  nights  we  could  not  distinguish  the 
froth  of  tiic  s(>a,  which  ran  mountains  high,  from  the  broken 
ice  by  whicli  wc^  were  cntircdy  surrounded." 

During  the  absence  of  Dr.  O'Donel,  on  his  voyage  to 
(Quebec,  to  be  consecrated,  the  Very  lv(^v.  Father  Vore,  who 
had  been  appointed  Vicar-Oeneral,  writes  to  Dr.  Troy,  under 


202 


ECCLESIASTICAL   HISTORY 


I     \ 


date    Soptombor  20,  ITOfi,  a  vtM-y    interesting   letter,   from 
which  we  take  the  following  extracts  :  — 

"In  the  absence  of  Dr.  O'Donel,  who  has  hoii  ^ved  nio  with 
his  care,  I  feel  it  ti  duty  to  mention  the  genen  1  satisfac- 
tion at  his  jjromotion,  and  to  accinaint  you  with  the  happy 
chang(!  in  the  sentiments  of  the  [)eople,  who  not  long  since 
burned  the  houses  where  jNIass  was  said  or  i)riests  were 
sheltered.  Kciigion  has  made  great  progress  in  the  country, 
especially  in  my  own  district  (Fia'ryland).  I  have  completed 
Jin  elegant  chai)el,  with  a  convenient  dwelling,  all  at  n)y  own 
expense,  except  £10,  which  the  poor  people  subscribed  last 
year.  The  many  fruitless  attempts  of  the  ^lethodist  |)reachers 
have  been  successfully  batlled,  and  th(>re  is  now  I)ut  one  of 
that  sect  in  the  districts  of  Ferryland  and  Trei)assey,  and 
even  his  family  became  Catholic  this  year. 

"The  Protestants  likewise  lose  ground,  and  their  minister 
was  obliged  to  decamp,  notwitlistanding  his  £70  a  year 
from  the  '  Society.'  Their  feelings  at  such  an  event  are 
easily  conceived  ;  but  as  he  was  a  generous  and  well-bred 
man,  we  always  lived  in  frieiKlslii[)  and  ])arted  in  peace. 

"The  place  is  exceedingly  poor  from  a  faihue  in  the 
fisherv,  containinii:  nearlv  2,r)00  souls,  unetiuallv  divided  in 
ten  ditlerent  harbors  in  the  space  of  about  70  miles.  . 
The  8th  instant  nine  French  men-of-war  hov(>,  in  sight  :  one; 
80-gun  ship,  six  74-gun  ships,  and  two  frigates.  The  10th, 
they  ])()re  down  on  the  harbour  to  attack.  The  wind  not 
answering  them  to  enter,  and  discovering  our  strong  and 
well-mamied  fortilications,  they  thought  it  projjcr  to  steer 
off,  and  sailed  for  Bay  Bulls,  which  liiey  attacked  and  burnt. 
.  A  vessel  which  arrived  hi-re  last  Sunday  left  (Juel)ec 
on  the  r)lh  instant.  j\Ir.  O'Donel  was  not  yet  arrived.  They 
sailed  from  this  about  six  weeks  since.  riiey  went  north- 
about  to  avoid  the  enemy.  It  is  generally  a  long  passage, 
and  those  who  are  used  to  it  are  not  afraiil  of  danger." 

This  letter  shows  from  the  context  that  it  was  written 
at  Ferryland  ;  and  as  the  date  is  Septeml)er  20lh,  and  he 


OF  NEWFOUNDLAND. 


203 


states  that  Dr.  O'Doncl  left  about  six  weeks  before,  that 
wouhl  be  about  the  first  week  in  Auiiust.  Althouirh  Father 
Yore  had  not  up  to  tliat  date  reeeived  an  ncCv)unt  of  his  ar- 
rival, as  a  matter  of  faet,  at  the  very  mouieut  he  was  writiiij^, 
Dr.  O'Donel  was  in  pre})aration  and  vigil  for  his  eonsceration, 
which  took  jjlace,  as  we  have  seen,  on  the  following  day  (21st 
Sei)teinber).  The  eircuitous  route,  around  by  the  north  and 
throuiih  the  Straits  of  lielle  Isle,  eould  not  I>e  made  in  shorter 
time,  even  in  our  own  day.  Uefore  his  departure  from  St. 
John's  he  reeeived  a  warm  and  sincere  address,  signed  l)y 
the  merchants  and  Protestant  inhabitants  generally,  by  the 
■colonel,  then  conunander-in-chief  of  the  forces,  and  by  the 
officers,  military  and  naval.  It  shows  what  an  extraordinary 
change  had  come  over  public  feeling  since  Dr.  O'Donel's  tirst 
appearance  in  Newfoundland.     It  is  as  follows  :  — 

"Rev.  Sin,  —  As  we  understand  that  you  shortly  intend  to 
make  a  voyage  to  the  continent  of  America,  ])ermit  us  to 
take  this  ()pi)ortunity  of  assiu'ing  you  of  our  good  and  sincere 
wishes  for  your  safety  and  happy  return  ;  and  how  sensible 
we  are  of  the  many  obligations  we  lie  under  for  your  very 
steady  and  indct'atigable  perseverance  in  attending  to,  and 
regulating  with  ,^iic!i  address,  the  morals  of  nuich  of  the 
greater  part  of  this  connnunity,  the  salutary  eU'octs  of  which 
have  been  sutliiientiy  obvious.  We  are  no  strangers  to  the 
many  dilliculties  which  you  hav(!  from  tinu^  to  time  been 
obliged  to  encounter,  even  at  the  risk  of  your  life,  in  regu- 
larly visiting  the  diU'crent  outjiosts  witiiin  your  reach,  and 
in  performing,  with  clieerfulness  and  alacrity,  those  functions 
from  whence  hav(^  arisen  so  many  advantages  to  the  inhabi- 
tants of  this  Island.  That  you  may  long  be  able  to  fiillil, 
with  your  wonted  /cal  and  attention,  the  many  duties  of  the 
honorable  ollice  you  now  hold,  is  the  unfeigned  wish  of 

"liev.  Sir,  your  most  obedient  Servants,"  etc. 

As  soon  as  possible  after  his  consecration  Dr.  O'Donel 
retm'ued  to  Newfoundland,  and  after  a  most  dangerous  })as- 
sage  arrived  at  Flacentia,  then  a  place  of  greater  importance 


il 


I 


204 


ECCLESIASTICAL   HISTOIIY 


than  now.  It  had  a  lioutenant-frovcrnor  and  a  garrison. 
The  lilshoi)  made  a  pastoral  visitation  of  the  district,  and  ad- 
ministered the  Saerament  of  Contlrmation.  This  was  not  the 
first  time  IMacentia  had  l)een  hoiiored  hy  the  pn-senee  of  si 
IJishop.  Wc  have  before  noticed  that  the  l)isho[)  of  (^n(il)ec 
paid  a  visit  here  some  hundred  and  seven  years  previously 
(1()S!I).  liut  it  was  the  first  Episcopal  visitation  since  the 
English  obtained  entire  possession  of  the  Island,  and  nuist 
have  been  a  source  of  great  consohitlon  to  tlu^  good  people. 

The  pastor  of  the  missit)n  at  the  time  was  the  Kev.  Ed- 
numd  IJourko,  already  alluded  to. 

The  Bishop  returned  as  soon  as  possible  to  St.  John's  to 
resume  his  arduous  labors.  lie  had  but  two  jjriests  to  attend 
to  the  spiritual  wants  of  St.  JohiTs,  Torbay,  Portugal  Cove, 
and  the  South  Shore  of  Conception  Bay,  Bay  IjuIIs,  the 
Southern  Shore,  and  other  localities,  now  all  jjrovided  with 
resident  clergymen. 

In  1<S01  he  i)ublished  a  body  of  Diocesan  Statutes,  for  the 
guidance  of  the  priests  under  his  Jurisdiction,  and  i)articu- 
larly  adai)ted  to  the  state  of  the  Church  in  this  country'. 
Among  other  injunctions,  the  missionaries  are  exhorted  to 
visit  each  other  as  frecjuently  as  possible  ;  all  are  bound  to 
come  to  St.  John's  at  least  once  a  year,  and  the  [)riests  of 
Harbor  Grace  and  Eerryland  twice  a  year.  It  appears  that 
at  the  time  those  statutes  were  pul)lished  there  were  no  sec- 
ular priests  in  the  Island,  for  in  his  exhortation  to  nuitual 
charity  he  says:  "  Missionarii  o!nn(>s  sive  Seculares  (licet 
ndhuc  non  ad  sint),  sive  Bcgulares  CujuscuiKjue  Ordiiiis." 
He  concludes  the  statutes  by  ordering  (we  give  tlu^  words  in 
an  English  translation)  "that  public  prayers  be  ofTenMl  up 
every  Sunday  and  holiday  (though  but  few  of  the  latter  can 
be  observed  in  this  Mission,  and  the  Su[)erior  will  luneafli'r, 
by  a  private  notice,  designate  such  as  can  be  observed)  for 
our  Most  Sovereign  King  George  HI.  and  his  Koyal  family  ; 
that  the  priests  should  use  every  means  to  turn  aside  their 
flocks  from  tho  vortex  of  modern  anarchy  ;  thiit  they  should 
inculcate  u  willing  obedience  to  the  salutary  laws  of  Eng- 


OF   NEWFOUNDLAND. 


205 


liiiul,  .111(1  to  tlio  coiuinunds  of  the  govornor  and  ina<;istrato.s 
of  this  Island.  .  .  .  AVc  most  earnestly  entreat,  and 
!)>■  all  the  spiritual  authority  wo  hold,  ordain  that  all  niis- 
sioners  oppose  with  all  the  means  in  their  power  all  plotters, 
conspirators,  and  favorers  of  the  infidel  French,  and  use 
every  endeavour  to  withdraw  tlu'ir  peoi)le  from  the  plausible 
cajolery  of  French  deceit;  for  the  aim  of  this  conspiracy 
is  to  dissolve  all  honds,  all  laws,  by  which  society  is  held  to- 
gether, and  more  csi)ecially  the  laws  of  England,  which  are 
to  be  preferred  to  those  of  any  other  country  in  Europe." 

These  instructions  show  that  the  danger  to  bo  dreaded  by 
the  spread  of  revolutionary  princii)les  in  Newfoundland  was 
not  exaggerated ;  and  such  being  the  statements  of  Dr. 
O'Donel,  it  is  no  wonder  that  tlu>  British  Government  would 
not  only  tolerate,  but,  in  a  certain  manner,  protect  Catholicity 
in  the  country.  Indeed,  the  loyalty  of  the  Roman  Catholics 
to  the  English  Crown  has  been  frecjuently  tested  in  the  North 
American  colonies.  After  the  successful  revolution  which 
elevated  the  United  States  from  a  colonial  dependency  to  a 
great  and  i»uwerful  nation.  Congress,  at  the  instance  of 
Franklin,  sent  a  de[)utation  to  Canada,  of  which  he  himself 
formed  one,  and  of  which  the  iJev.  John  Carrol,  Jesuit,  and, 
subsecjuently,  as  mentioned  before,  the  first  Bishop  of  Bal- 
timore, was  also  a  member.  The  object  of  the  mission  was 
to  induce  the  Canadians  to  raise  the  standard  of  indei)end- 
cu'- .  But  the  Canadian  Catholics,  enjoying  j)crfect  liberty 
of  conscience  under  British  rule,  and  beholding  how,  even 
under  the  glorious  eagle  of  American  independence,  the  nar- 
row-minded and  gloomy  i)()licy  of  the  descendants  of  the 
fanatical  I'ilgrims  of  Massachusetts  held  full  sway,  refused 
to  swerve  from  tlu'ir  allciriance.  To  the  extreme  bitrotrv 
and  insolence  of  these  puritanical  neighbors  England  chielly 
owes  the  preservation  of  her  great  Canadian  empire.  The 
continued  aggression,  coui)led  with  insult,  offered  both  to 
their  '"liglu:*  and  to  their  nationality,  caused  the  Canadians 
to  shJ'iis.  from  all  desire  of  political  association  with  such  a 
peo[)le,  and  thereby  strengthened  their  loyalty  to  England. 


206 


ECCLKSIASTICAL   HISTORY 


CHAPTER   XVI. 


ItT.   UFA'.    Dll.   (VDONEL,   Continued.-  [1801-1800.] 


ii 


M 


\       I 


Establishmrnt  nf  Parislirx  and  Distncrs  —  StiitP  of  the  ronntry  —  "  Tlic  Old  riiaix-l" 
—  "'I'lif  Old  I'aliicc  " — UcliiviiK'iit  (if  Dr.  O'Doiicl  —  AplioiiilliU'iit  (if  Dr.  I.iiiii- 
bcrt  —  Tt'sliiiioiiy  of  Hespcct  to  Dr.  O'Dont'l  on  i.ciiviii;;  tlii^  Country —  Mayimni- 
moiii^  Coiiduct  of  llic  .Mi'iTliaiils  ami  Inlialiitaiils  —  Cliurlisli  Conduct  of  (iovcrnor 
(iowcr —  Dr.  O'Donid  lU'ci'lvcs  a  Pension  of  CM  ptr  An  mint  —  llisDi'parluri'  from 
till'  Nlaiid,  Last  Days,  Death  (1811),  l^pitaph  —  Ufview  of  liis  Kpiscoputc — I'cr- 
sonal  Character. 


AFTER  his  consecration  the  IVishop  coiiliimod  to  exercise 
his  missiouiiry  (hitics  as  before.  He  tlivided  the  whole 
diocese  into  missions  or  districts,  of  which  there  were  at  lirst 
four. 

J^ivst.  St.  John's,  includin<r  from  Lii  Manche  tf)  Holy- 
rood,  which  was  attended  hy  the  JJishop  tind  his  uei)liew. 
Father  :\lichael  (VDoncl. 

Sc'coiid.  Harhor  (irace,  inchidin*;  from  Holyrood  to 
Grtites  ('ov(! ;  norlli  from  there  was  visited  iimmally  hy  a 
priest  from  St.  John's,  who  also  visited  Lahra(h)r.  Tliis 
district  Wiis  atteniU'd  hy  Fatht-r  ^^'llclall,  wlio  wouhl  seem  to 
liave  1)ccn  its  first  missioner.  .After  Ids  death  (by  drown- 
inii),  Fr.  ^'ore  came  fiom  Ferryland,  but  stayed  only  a  short 
time  ;  then  Fr.  Fitzpatrick  took  charije  of  this  mission,  and 
Fr.  Yore  went  for  jiood  there  in  I'SOl!. 

Tli!nl.  Ferry liind,  ini-ludiiiu;  from  Lamanche  to  Cape  St. 
Mary'8.  This  mission  was  first  attended  by  Fr.  Fitzpatrick 
until  the  arrival  of  Fr.  Yore  in  l<<Si). 

Fourth.  Pliicentiii  included  from  Cape  St.  Mary's  to  For- 
tune r>ay,  anil  all  beyond.  It  Wiis,  as  we  have  seen,  first  at- 
tended by  Fr.  Bourke  till  17D8,  when  he  was  succeeded  by 
Fr.  AVhelun. 


OF   NKU'FOUNDLANI). 


207 


It  has  l)o<Mi  niontioiicd  Uuil  Fr.  Voro  (inivod  in  1789. 
This  vciicrnhh'  ('Ii'r<;ynmn  played  a  conspiciioiis  part  in  the 
early  eceh'siastical  histoi-y  of  liie  eountry  tor  nearly  half  a 
eoiitury,  and  has  left  his  name  indelihly  i)rinted  on  our  an- 
nals, lie  was  a  man  of  imposintr  i)reseiu'(f  and  indomilahlc 
will.  Dean  Cleary  deserihos  him  as  "a  domineering;  man 
.  earryinjj;  all  hefore  him.  He  used  to  <j:<)  sin<^le- 
handed  in  a  skill"  tVom  Ferry  land  to  St.  .John's."  Wv  ar- 
rived tirst  on  our  shores  at  Ferry  land  in  17S!).  His  Kreat, 
or  ere(h>ntial  letter,  from  the  Provincial  of  the  Franeisean 
Order  in  Ireland  is  an  anticiuatetl  document,  hearing;  the 
hirgo  seal  of  the  Oi'd(!r,  the  cross,  with  cross-arms  and  cross- 
hones,  with  the  legend,  "  Fnifrnnk  Jfiiior  S/ricfioris  Ohs. 
Pror!nri(v.  lllhcrnkv."  1  thiidv  it  sutliciently  interesting  to 
reproduce  in  full :  — 


"Fr.  Jacol)us  ()  Reilly,  F.  F.  Minor  Strict"  Ohservantiio, 
Provinciie  Hiberuiie,  Minister  Proviucialis  et  Missiouarius 
Emeritus,  K.  V.  Thoniie  Yor(^  ojusdeiu  Provinciie  Alunino, 
Predicatori  et  Contessario,  SalutenuM  IJenedii'tionem  in  Dom- 
ino. Cum  ad  missionem  AnuM'icanam  anheles,  Xol»is<j.  pium 
hoc  tuum  desiderium  suppliciter  e.\i)osueris,  favore  Onmi- 
modo  te  prosecpii  volentes  justis  tuis  votis  annuinms,  proin 
tenore  pnes(>ntium  facultatem  tii)i  ((juantum  in  nohis  est) 
impertimur  ut  ad  prefatam  Missionem  tiuancius  accedere 
valeas.  Interim  te  ecu  vitic  e.\i'Ui[)laris  Keligiosum  altofatie 
^lissionis  Prefectil)us  charius  in  Domino  Connnendanms. 
Vale  I    Nostri  in  precihus  et  Sacriticiis   Memor. 

"  Datum  in  loco  Nostra'  Kesidentife  Pon- 
tanenseas  hae  die  (5'"  Marlii  Amio  rejiaratic 
Salutis  ITSil.  Suh  Nostro  Chirographo 
Pr<)vinciie(|ue  SigiUo  Majoi'i. 

Fli.   .lACOUrS   O  KEILLY, 

''  JIini.s''  Prualis." 


"[L.S.] 

"(Signed) 


A  man  of  sucli  physical  and  mental  energy  was  not  one  to 
remain  long  inactive.     Inunediately  after  his  arrival  he  com- 


208 


ECCLESIASTICAL   HISTORY 


f« 


mcnccd  fo  lay  the  roiindiilions,  (cmpornl  imd  spiritiuil,  of  tin? 
future  Mission  of  KciitIiukI.  llv  liouirlit  the  fiiini  known  by 
the  not  vory  ciiplionious  naino  of  "  Scroir^ins,"  ii/id  liuiltii 
liouso  Mild  cIiJ'.pcl  not  far  from  tlic  ruins  of  lli<^  ('stal)lislnniMit 
ahandoncil  by  Lord  Haltinior(!  over  one  hundred  and  sixty 
years  lu'forc.  No  vesti<j:(^  remains  of  either  house  or  ehapel 
now,  thouiih  the  site  is  siiown  to  the  eastward  of  the  main 
road,  near"tlie  IVtoI."  lie  labored  assi(hiously  in  this  Mission 
for  about  sevent«'en  years.  In  the  year  l.SO,')  or  1S()(!  he 
went  to  Harbor  (Jraeo,  wiiere  he  eontimied  his  labors  till  his 
death,  in  1S,'?3,  at  the  a;j:e  of  eiiihly-four  years.  He  had  been 
appointed  Viear-(Jeneral  by  Dr.  O'Donel,  after  his  eonse- 
eration  in  17!Hi.  He  was  one  of  the  three  who  petitioned  the 
Holy  Fatiier  for  the  eonseeration  of  Dr.  O'Donel.  His  first 
act  on  iioini;  to  Harbor  (Jraeo  Wiis  to  pay  olf  a  del)t  of  three; 
hmidred  and  tifty  i)ounds  left  on  the  ehapel  there,  for  which 
purpose  he  travelled  throuiihoul  every  settlement  of  tin;  Ray. 
He  was  succeeded  in  Ferryland  by  Father  Fitzpatriek,  who 
built  the  old  chapel  at  Renews  (outside  of  the  "Look-out"). 
On  at'count  of  some  money  diflieulties  he  left  the  country  in 
181(!,  and  went  to  Ireland,  when;  he  died. 

The  total  population  of  the  Island  at  this  time  was  about 
thirtv-five  thousand,  of  whom  three-fourths  were  Catholics, 
and  only  al)out  one-seventh  were  females.  The  ordinary 
wajres  of  a  tlsherman  was  thirty  pounds  for  the  half 
year.  They  were  "shipped  for  the  voyaire,"  so  that  in 
winter  no  waires  were  uiven,  nor  was  there  any  work, 
exce[)t  rindinii'  or  boat-buildin<^.  There  was  no  cultiva- 
tion of  the  soil  ;  not  even  potatoes  were  ])lante(l.  Jn  the 
winter  mt'U  lived  in  "cook-rooms"  attached  to  the  stages, 
and  boarded  themselves,  or  "ate  themselves,"  as  they  said. 
Money  was  plentiful.  There  was  no  ])ai)er  money,  (>xcept  bills 
of  exeiiauiie  on  Fnuland  ;  no  coppers,  but  dollars  (Mexican) 
were  the  current  medium;  and  tradition  re{)orts  that  they 
were  so  plentiful  that  men  played  "pitch-and-toss"  with  them. 
Up  to  the  present  day  many  a  good  " cul  haitha"  is  in  exist- 
ence, in  the  shape  of  a  stocking  crammed  with  those  broad 


i» 


'^l\ 


ftt 


OF    Ni;\VF()UN'i)LAM). 


209 


piofps.'  Every  Mocossary  wns  imported.  Bread  .sold  at.  £l> 
a  l)!iLr;  pork  at  £10  a  harri^l  ;  lea,  etc.,  in  proportion;  l)iJt, 
then,  li>li  was  worth   [!">.■<.  a  ((tiinlal. 

There  was  no  |)oslal  eonnnunieation  witli  the  outer  worKI, 
but  vessels  h'aviii*;  every  fall  and  sprin^j  l>r(<'i<xht  letters. 
There  were  no  roads.  l'(>()plo  travelled  in  winlei'  iVoin  IMa- 
eenlia  to  St.  John's  rid  St.  Mary's  and  Tr('|)assey,  Jlenou/e, 
ele.,  and  from  liOiiijj  Ilarlior,  vi(f  Heart's  Content,  to  Ilarhoi* 
Graee. 

It  has  ahvady  been  stated  that  Dr.  O'Donel  built  the  "Old 
Chap(d  "  at  St.  fb)hn's,  thouirh  it  is  most  prol)al»le  a  ehapcd  of 
some  sort  existed  befoi'e  his  ai'rival  here  in  17(S4.  AeeordiuLT 
to  a  statement  of  the  late  Dean  ('l(>ary,  it  must  have  been 
erected  at  least  ten  years  before^  that  date,  viz.,  1771;  for 
when  the  late  venerable  Dean  was  stationed  at  Jionavista,  in 
\^'M),  ho  met  with  an  old  man  named  Harry  lilaek,  then 
eiirhty  years  t)f  ajre  (eonseiiuently  he  had  been  born  in  17,')0). 
He  informed  the  Dean  that  the  "Old  Chapel  "  was  built  when 
he  was  a  yonntr  nian  of  twenty-four  or  twenty-tive  years  of 
aire  (viz.,  in  1771),  and  that  he  himself  "  brouiiht  the  tirst 
slick  of  wood  that  ever  was  placed  in  it.  It  was  laid  under 
the  illar  in  the  north-west  corner."  Auain  we  have  seen  tiiat 
the  foundation-stone  of  the  "Old  Chaixd  "  bears  a  still  earlier 
date,  viz.,  1  7,'>  t. 

An  old  house  still  (188.'))  exists,  belonuinir  to  Mr.  Corlx^tt, 
in  the  neii:hI)()i'ho()d  of  tin;  Star  of  the  Sea  Ilall,  in  which  Mass 
Avascelebi'atcd  before  the  erection  of  the  "Old  Chapel."-  At 
fir.-<t  the  chai)id  consisted  of  uu-ndy  the  lransc})ts  and  jjart 
of  the  uave.     It  was  enlari>'e(l  in  1825,  and  the  bell  ^  erected. 

•This  is  IK)  iinii;,'in:iry  or  rhetoriciil  fijjTurc.  A  few  years  a;,'o  a  treasiive-trovo  of  this 
sort  came  into  llie  liaiuls  of  tiic  present  writer,  in  tlie  shape  of  a  \y.i<r  containiii},'  forty 
ponnds  (one  liiindreil  anil  sixty  ilollars).  They  liad  l>een  concealed  uniler  a  iieartli- 
stoiu!  for  over  forty  years. 

"This  house  has  sinre  liecn  imlled  down  to  make  loom  for  the  wideiiin;;  of  tlie 
street,  and  Mr.  Corhett,  one  of  tlie  few  who  conld  speaU  from  personal  reeolleetion  of 
Dr.  O'Donel,  has  heeu  ;rathered  to  his  forefathers,  lie  declared  that  while  he  lived 
no  saerile;;ions  hand  shonld  he  laid  upon  the  old  "shanty,"  for  it  was  not  much  hetter, 
and  every  day  till  he  died  ho  spent  an  hour  in  it. 

"'rhis  his|(uie  bell,  which  llrst  sounded  the  toesin  of  the  faith  over  the  hills  of 
Newfoundland,  hears  the  inseription,  "  John  Redluill,  fecit  1S2j."    It  was  removed,  ou 


I  .1  ■   9  ' 


210 


ECCLESIASTICAL  IIISTOllY 


The  "01(1  Piiiiicc""  wiis  built  about  1807  ])y  Dr.  Lambert,  suc- 
cessor to  Dr.  O'Douel,  though  i)roviously  (<>  lliat  tinic  tluiro, 
was  a  small  lu)iis(>  on  lli(»  spot,  Avitli  ono  cliimnev  fa  dariiii^ 
l*ai)al  aiiLiTcssion  in  those  days)  and  one  parlor,  rx'l'orc^  tlio 
eri'i'tion  of  this  pi'imi(iv(>  d\\('llin<:',  "the  Uisliop"  (so  a  very 
venorablc!  lady  iiit'ormed  mo)  "lived  in  Tom  AVilliams'  house, 
at  the  i'oot  of  Lime  Kiln  Hill."' 

lu  isil  the  "Old  Palaee"  was  enlararfd,  and  was  made  one 
of  the  linest  and  most  im[)()sinji^  lookinii'  houses  in  the  town. 
For  a  peiiod  of  nearly  seventy  years  it  was  the  home  of  the 
bishoj)s  and  elerjiy  of  the  early  Chnreh  in  Newloundland. 
Aroun  ^  "'  hunu;  many  saered  and  soothiuir  traditions;  and 
many  of  the  anecdotes  of  its  former  history,  i-eeited  l)y  the 
elder  eliM'ev?  ill'*'  f'l"  t>t  interest,  often  most   anmsinu'.-     It 


tlif  taking  down  of  the  "  Old  Chsipol "  in  1872,  to  St.  Peter's  Cliapol,  Queen  Street,  where 
it  conlinued  its  holy  son;r  ot"  "  Conijri'ijn  Cl<ri,iii,  Popiihiiii  I'nco"  till  that  ehapel 
heeanie  oonvci'tcd  into  a  school,  in  18S1,  when  it  was  procured  by  the  enerirctic  pasior 
of  Salnionicr,  I'cv.  -T.  SI.  .Tohn,  and  erected  in  the  hell-chiinil)cr  of  the  <'eiitral 
tower  of  the  beautiful  (^hurch  of  St.  .loseph,  which  rises  irraeet'idly  anioiiu-  llie  lir-trccs 
on  tliat  eharniin','  estuary  of  the  Hay  of  St.  Mary's.  There  for  many  a  Ioult  year  to 
come  the  sweet  tones  of  this  noble  oM  ha^llin^'cr  of  the  failh  will  ;;lail(len  the  ears  of 
th<'  hanly  li^hcrlnen  with  the  sweet  souniU  of  the  "  Au'jchi-;,"  or  cheer  thcin  as  thev 
retui'n  in  their  little  boats  with  the  f;lailsome  chime  of  the  Vesper  jieal. 

'  'I'hc  v<'nerable  lady  alluded  to  is  .Mrs.  Kenury,  a  re-pectal)le  and  jjious  woman, 
who  died  in  ISSO,  haviuif  attained  beyond  her  eightieth  year.  She  remembered  Dr. 
O'DoMcl  (piite  well.  She  was  horn  in  the  old  house,  still  existini:,  in  the  Duke  of 
York  Sireet,  alias  Kenney's  Lane,  which  bad  formerly  been  tlie  "  lirsl  (Jovcrmnent 
llou-^c."  This  hou-ic,  tliou,i;h  not  of  any  very  elaborate  architectural  or  ^gubernatorial 
pretentions,  wa-i,  nevertheless,  somethin^r  of  a  more  duiable  ami  evinn-ive  character 
than  the  ordinary  wooden  (hvellin>rs  of  the  time,  a^  the  oakm  beam-,  si  ill  visible,  can 
testify.  It  is  of  very  remote  anliiiiiity.  1  have  not  been  able  to  discover  the  date  of 
its  erection,  but  from  the  lease  and  receipts  in  pus^cs^ion  of  the  Kciuicy  lamilv  it 
a]ipears  tluit  in  the  year  170."i  it  was  rented  by  "  father  ( )'l)ouel  "  (he  was  not  conse- 
<'ratcd  r>i-hop  till  the  followinjr  year,  ITU'i)  "and  J)r.  ( );^den,  M.D.,  for  Mr.  lirinc. 
father  of  Mrs.  Kenney.'  The  jiroperty  is  called  "  Mary  SlriplinL''s  I'lantation,"  and 
eonsisis  cf  "a  house  and  ^;arilcn."  It  hclonirs  to  "  Mary  Striplinu',  of  Ashl)Ui'toii,  in 
County  ill'  Devon,  Kinu'doni  of  (ireat  Britain,  spinster";  the  rent  was  £'i  1,"),<.  lor 
twelve  months. 

*There  was  one  piu'tioii,  a  sort  of  back  linhay,  <n-  attic,  exposed  to  the  north-east, 
which  was  extremely  cold  m  the  winter  season.  It  was  siirnilicantly  named  "Tlu!  Lab- 
rador," and  to  it  were  r(  lc;;atcd  the  Junior  clcrLTy,  on  their  lirst  arrival  in  the  countrv, 
as  a  place  of  probation  and  noviceship.  It  was  probably  supposed  that  the  fervor  of 
their  youn;.c  hearts  would  enable  them  to  bear  more  heroically  the  nippinijr  atmosphere 
of  this  "  remote  "  attic.  The  only  line  of  demarcation  defniin;,'  the  portion  of  /i  rrl/ory 
allotted  to  each  incumbent  of  "  Lal)rador,"  for  dressinir  and  washini,'  room,  bed,  etc., 
was  a  chalk  line  drawn  across  the  lloor. 


1 


OK   NEWFOUNDLAND. 


211 


] 


went  throiiii'h  many  vicissiliidcs.  In  the  yoixv  1854,  on  the 
conipK^tion  ofthc  superb  newpalacison  the  Cathedral  jiTounds, 
hv'Dr.  Mnlloek,  the  "OKI  Palace"  was  abandoned,  and  Bishop 
and  ('leriiy  went  to  live  in  the  new  residence.  For  some  time 
afti'r  this,  however,  the  Saturday  evening  confessions  were 
heard  in  the  "  ( )Id  Chapel,"  and  the  priests  continued  partially 
to  occupy  tiie  "Old  I'alaee." 

In  the  year  1<S,').'),  on  the  dismeml)(>rment  of  tlie  K(nnan 
Catholic  Academy  and  the  commencement  of  the  new  CoUeue 
of  St.  ]>()naventure,  tlie  "Old  Palace  "  was  titted  u|)  as  a  tem- 
l^orary  school,  undei'  the  Xew  Education  Act,  and  was  jjlaeed 
under  the  cl!:'r<>"e  of  the  \'ery  liev.  Fr.  (now  Archdeacon) 
Forristal.  the  tirst  President  of  St.  lionaventure's.  The  fol- 
lowinir  year  it  Avas  found  incommodious  and  unfitted  for  the 
larg-e  ninnbcr  of  boarders  which  soon  I-vpui  to  lioek  to  the 
colleue.  Tlie  ('stablisiunent  was  removed  to  "The  Monastery" 
at  Px'lvideri',  the  new  l)uihlinii'  liot  Ix'iue'  yet  completed.  The 
"Old  Palace"  w;is  thus  ajrain  abandoned,  and  remained  unten- 
anted, except  by  the  faithfid  sacristan,  "  Tonuny  AVoods,"' 
until  the  arrival  of  the  Most  Kev.  Dr.  Power,  in  1S70.  At 
this  time,  it  having  been  reported  that  the  "Old  Chapel"  was 
in  a  dangerous  condition,  it  was  examined  by  competent 
nieehanies,  who  deelari-d  it  their  opinion  that  it  was  unsafe, 
and  it  was  ordered  to  be  taken  down.  The  site,  howexei', 
hallowed  by  so  many  sacr(>d  memories,  and  sauctitied  by 
being  macU'  the  I'radle  of  Catholicity  in  Ni'wfoundlaiul,  was 
not  jH'rmitted  to  be  handed  over  to  any  purely  secular  use. 
It  was  seem-ed  In  the  newly  instituted  Star  of  the  Sea 
Association,  a  Catholic  society  of  tisiu'rmen,  established  with 
religious  and  mutual  beiietieial  ol)jeets,  who  built  u[)on  it  their 
vei'v  tine  jmblic  hall.  'I'he  "Old  Palace,"  which  foi'uied  i)art 
of  the  proiK'rty  transferred,  did  not  long  survive  its  alienation 
from  its  eeelesiaslical  owners.  It  was  bui'ut  to  the  giound  in 
1874.  Thus  psissed  away  one  of  the  old  landmarks  of  our 
Church  histor}'.  I  thought  it  not  unworthy  of  this  brief 
memoir. 

The  severe  labors  of  the  mission  now  beiran  to  undermine 


f 


212 


ECCLESIASTICAL    UISTOKY 


the  constitution  of  the  viMioviiblc  Prelate  ;  nor  is  it  to  l)e 
Avondered  jit,  for,  be.sides  tlie  cares  of  the  hisho})ric,  he  had 
to  dischariic,  a.s  Mas  stated,  tlie  duties  of  a  missionary  ])riest, 
on  account  of  the  paucity  of  clerjivnien  in  the  vicariate. 
He  represented  the  state  of  his  failing;'  healtii  to  tiie  Holy 
See,  otl'ered  his  resii>nation,  and  l)egjj:ed  for  a  successor 
to  be  ai)pointed.  Deej)ly  impressed  with  the  responsil)ili- 
ties  of  the  pastoral  otHce,  he  would  not  continue  to  hold 
n  dignity  the  duties  of  which  he  was  unal)le  to  discharge, 
and  the  resources  of  the  vicariate  were  then  too  limited  to 
support  a  coadjutor.  Accordingly,  he  procured  the  a[)point- 
ment  of  Dr.  Ijambert  as  his  successor,  and  in  tlie  year 
1807  he  left  the  lit'ld  of  his  apostolic  labors  for  his  native 
soil. 

When  Dr.  O'Doncl  was  leaving  the  country,  all  classes 
united  to  show  their  ajjpreciation  of  his  character.  The  dvv\) 
regret  of  his  own  Hock  at  losing  their  beloved  i)astor  and 
father  was  recijjrocated  by  the  Protestant  })ortion  of  the 
conununity,  Avho  lost  a  friend,  and  in  many  cases  a  j)rotector. 
A  public  meeting  was  called,  and  a  large  silver  urn  presented 
to  him  as  a  token  of  esteen:,  A  letter  was  also  sent  to  the 
governor  ((iower)  recjuesting  him  to  forward  to  the  English 
Government  their  re(juest  for  a  i)ension  to  Dr.  O'Donel.  The 
governor  complied  with  their  request,  but  in  a  very  un- 
graceful manner,  as  will  api)ear  from  his  letter.  The 
occasion  was  one  on  which  it  was  iu)t  necessary  to  make 
a  disj)lay  of  his  feelings  by  using  the  insulting  and  un- 
English  word  "  Komish."  The  result  of  the  petition  was 
a  beggarly  pension  of  £.">()  per  anmnn  to  him  whose  services 
were  more  useful  to  the  Government  of  England  than  a 
garrison:  the  man,  in  fact,  who  more  than  oiict' saved  the 
colony  to  the  Crown.  ''  While  the  j)rotligat(^  favorites  of 
royalty,"  writes  Dr.  Mullock,  "and  the  cadets  of  a  beggarly 
aristocracy  were  drawing  their  thousands  ammally  from  the 
l)ension  \\><{,//J'fi/2)oi(inh  was  considered  a  sullicient  reward 
for  the  acknowledged  and  invaluable  services)  of  a  Catholic 
lihliop  !  *' 


OF   NEWFOUNDLAND. 


213 


Tli(^  fblloniiiii'  i!^  the  letter  of  tlie  meirhiints  and  inlmbitants 
generally  :  — 

"  St.  John's,  Newfoundland, 
"iHhAuirust,  1804. 

"  Siu,  —  We,  the  magistrates,  merchants,  and  other  inhal)- 
itants  of  St.  Jolni's,  Newfoundland,  beg  leave  to  state  to 
your  Kxcelleney,  that  the  Kight  Kev.  James  O'Donel,  ehief 
Koman  Catholic  clergyman  of  this  Island,  has  resided  among 
us  for  twenty  years,  during  which  time  he  has  strenuously 
and  successfully  laboured  to  improve  the  morals  and  regulate 
the  conduct  of  the  })lanters,  servants,  and  lower  classes  of 
the  inhabitants  of  tliis  and  the  neighbouring  districts,  whereby 
he  has  (>llectually  prevented  the  (juarrels  and  animosities 
Avhich  were  before  fre(pient,  and  rendered  our  })ersons  and 
properties  unsafe,  particularly  in  the  spring  of  the  year  1799, 
Avhen,  next  to  General  Skerritt,  he  was  the  person  who  saved 
this  valuable  Island  from  becoming  a  scene  of  anarchy  and 
confusion  b}'  making  the  most  unwearied  exertions  and  using 
the  extensive  influence  he  had  acquired  over  th(>  l()W(>r 
classes,  by  Avhich  means  they  were  prevented  from  joining 
the  nmtineers  of  the  Newfoundland  regiment  at  a  time  when 
General  Skerritt  had  not  sutHcient  force  to  oppose  sucli  a 
dangerous  cond)ination.  This  the  General  with  candour  often 
acknowlediicd,  and  reni'etted  that  he  had  not  sufficient  interest 
at  Home  to  procure  Dr.  O'Donel  a  pension  from  (rovermncnt 
for  the  many  essential  services  he  has  rendered  this  country  ; 
but  to  ()l)tain  whicii  the  Creneral  applied  to  Lord  lladstock. 
Sir  Charles  Morice  I*ole,  and  Admiral  (iambier,  for  their 
assistance;  whw  all  most  readily  agreed  in  promising  theii' 
support  to  so  just  a  claim,  and  testiiuonies  and  ilocuments, 
Avhich  would  in  all  ])robality  have  obtaincMl  this  favour  wcM-e 
sent  from  hence,  but  were  lost  fiom  on  board  the  ""Camilla." 
These  were  renewed  l)y  (Jeneral  Skerritt  the  following  year, 
and  by  him  addressed  to  His  Koyal  Highness  the  Duke  of 
Kent;  but  His  Royal  Highness  being  for  a  considerable  time 
aliroad  at  (iibraltar,  the  matter  seems  to  have  been  forgot. 
This  we  regret ;  yet  we  now  hope  that  this  truly  good  work, 


■HI 


214 


ECCLESIASTICAL   IIISTOUY 


I         I 


U 


by  the  fruidanco  of  Providonoo,  Iwis  hcon  reserved  to  be  ac- 
complislu'd  by  Your  Excellency  :  and  we  earnestly  re((iiest 
3011  will  use  your  benevolent  influence  with  His  Majesty's 
ministers  to  reward  this  very  respectable  gentlenian  with 
some  little  in(le|)endence  during  the  short  remainder  of  a 
long  life  spent  in  the  service  of  his  king,  country,  and 
neighbours. 

"AVe  have  the  honor  to  be,  etc., 
"  (Signed)  " 

r  Then  follow  the  signatures  of 
<  the  princi[)al  inhabitants  of 
{       St.  John's. 


The  following  is  the  Governors  repl^'  : — 

"Four  TowxsiiENi),  10  August,  ltS04. 
"  Gentlemen,  —  I  hav(^  received  your  letter  of  yesterday's 
date  stating  the  important  benefits  Government  has  received 
in  this  islaiid  from  the  useful  and  })atriotic  services  of  the 
Heverend  Dr.  O'Donel,  the  Romish  Bishoj)  in  St.  Jolurs, 
and  recpitsting  me  to  interfere  with  His  Majesty's  ministers 
to  obtain  him  some  comj)ensation,  in  reply  to  wiiich  I  have 
to  assure  you  that  I  shall  with  ureat  i)leasure  lav  your  repre- 
sentation  briV..-  His  Majesty's  Gov(>rmuent,  and  use  my 
utmost  (Mideavours  to  get  his  merit  re\var(le<l. 

"  I  am,  etc., 

"K.  GOWER. 

"The  incri'liaiits  and  priiicipal  iiiliahitaiits  of  St.  .loliii's." 

From  a  letter  of  Dr.  O'Donel  to  his  nephew.  Father  Michael 
O'Donel,  IM*.,  of  Clashmore,  kindly  sent  me  by  the  liishof/s 
grand-nephew,  the  Rev.  .Miclwud  O'Donnell,  of  Ilarrowgate, 
England  (whicji  letter  shall  be  produced  farther  on),  wo 
can  learn  to  within  a  day  or  two  the  date  of  Dr.  O'Donel's 
departuie  from  our  shores.  Tiie  letter  is  dated  "  Bristol, 
Se[)temberthe  17th,  1<S()7."  He  writes  :  ":My  dear  Michael, — 
I  have   to  accjuaint   you  of  my  arrival   in    Europe   after   a 


OF   NEWFOUNDLAND. 


215 


pleasf.Mt  passaji^e  of  20  diiys."  II(^  arrivod  first  at  Portsmouth, 
whcro  ho  remained  two  days,  thence  it  may  have  taken  liim 
two  or  three  days  to  get  to  liristol.  lie  was  in  Jiristol  some 
time  before  the  2'Jlh  August.  Hence  we  may  conclude  he 
left  St.  John's  about  the  2Gth  July. 

In  a  brief  account  of  the  life  and  labors  of  this  "Apostle 
of  Newfoundland,"  in  the  "Irish  Penny  Magazine  "  of  Novem- 
ber, 18;)4,  contributed  by  a  wi'iter  signing  himself  "  J.  E.,'' 
there  is  given,  "  IVom  various  manuscpts  in  his  possession," 
an  "  Klegy  on  the  liight  Rev.  James  v)*l)()nel,"  which  I  d(;em 
Avorthy  to  reproduce  here,  not,  perhaps,  altogether  on  account 
of  any  very  extraordinary  literary  merit,  but  as  an  interesting 
curiosity,  and  as  also  serving  to  illustrate  one  or  two  historical 
facts  concerning  the  life  of  our  "  first  Pishop."'    (See  Xote  .'5.) 

The  letters  "J.  E.,'M  am  informed  l)y  the  Hev.  Michael 
O'Donnell,  are  the  initials  of  flames  Kaid,  grandson  of  ]Mrs. 
Phelan  (  Dr.  O'Donefs  sister).  "  lie  died  many  years  since 
in  AVaterford,"  writes  F.  O.  1).  ;  "and  I,  who  knew  him  well, 
don't  believe  that  a  book  or  a  manuscript  belonging  to  him 
can  now  be  found." 

After  th(!  line  of  the  "Elegy"  referring  to  "Pritain's  gi'ate- 
ful  mite,"  tlun-e  is  a  note  stating  that  "for  his  (Dr. 
O'Doners)  meritorious  conduct,  (Jovernment  entitled  him  to 
accc})t  a  free  grant  of  a  i)ortion  of  land  in  St.  John's,  now 
called  the 'Pishoi)'s  Farm.'"  The  liight  Pev.  Dr.  Fleming 
was  not  aware  of  this  fact,  for  in  his  letter  (VII.)  to  Dr. 
Spratt,  S(>ptember  2d,  183(!,  he  says:  "I  began  to  make 
arrangements,  .  .  .  previous  to  my  departiu'c  for  New- 
foundland, to  solicit  at  Downing  St n-et  a  grant  of  ground 
for  the  eri'ction  of  a  church  and  public  school,  in  St. 
John's.  JVof  (I  sliKjlc  J'td-or  of  lite  kind,  not  a  f/nnif  of 
(jround  for  cdii/  puhUr  purpose,  having  ever  been  given  by 
tlu^  (lovernment  to  the  Catholics  of  Newfoundland."  Put 
this  grant  to  Dr.  O'Donel  Avas  a  j)rivate  or  personal  one. 
There  is,  however,  a  small  piece  of  ground  near  "  Palks,"  at 
River  Head,  St.  .John's,  which  belonged  to  Dr.  O'Donel,  the 
rent  of  which  is  received  by  Father  O'Donnell,  of  llarrowixate. 


2u; 


ECCLESIASTICAL   IIISTOHY 


"  Tho  tann,"  ho  says,  "  has  boon  routed  for  ninety-nino  years, 
at  a  rental  of  £!)  or  £10.  It  lias  l)oen  ])ai(l,  .  .  .  first 
to  my  uiiole,  tiieii  to  Mrs.  Plu'lan  (Dr.  O'Donel's  sister) 
and  for  the  last  forty  years  to  myscdf." 

A  note  is  added  to  the  second  last  stanza  of  the  EIei»y 
statinj;  that  "the  oereniony  on  the  day  of  his  sailinji;  from 
St.  John's  was  most  solenm.  -  All  l)nsiness  was  suspended, 
liuns  wen^  kept  tirinii'  at  regular  int(M'vals,  and  all  tho  vessels 
in  the  harbor  displayed  tlu'if  colors  at  half-mast  hi^'h  !  " 

In  the  letter  menlionod  as  havini;  boon  written  ]»v  Dr. 
O'Donel,  from  liristol.  to  his  nephew,  Father  O'Donel,  of 
Clashmoro,  he  i;lves  a  more  detailed  account  of  the  proceed- 
ings accompanyinj":  his  departure  :  — 


■'Tlio  merchants  of  St.  John's  b(>havtHl  with  uncommon 
friondsjiij)  and  singular  atlontion  to  me.  They  <>ave  mo 
a  farewell  dinner  at  the  Loiidoii  7\iirni ;  17  ix'opio  at  table; 
amonii'  whom  wore  the  heads  of  all  di^partments :  my 
noi)how,  Sullivan,  with  his  friend  from  ^lontreal.  Tiie 
President  made?  an  appropriiile  sj)occh  upon  the  occasion, 
and  then  drank  my  health  with  ;?  times  .'5  clioers.  The  feast 
was,  as  usual,  unconnnonly  expensive  and  sj)lendi(l.  The 
General,  magistrates,  merchants,  and  princi})al  iiihiil)itants 
of  the  town  addressed  nio  in  very  llattorinii-  terms  on  tho 
morniuir  of  my  departure.  All  the  Protestant  merchants 
waited  on  me  in  my  own  house,  and  escorted  mo  in  ])rocos- 
sion  to  PelTs  Wharf,  whore  they  had  another  man-of-war 
boat  with  (S  ours,  and  accompanied  me  in  it  aboard.  All  the 
merchants  and  inhai)itants  displayed  their  colours,  both  afloat 
and  on  shore,  to  the  best  advantage.  So  far  the  shore 
business."' 

Th(>  "splendid  gift''  mentioned  in  the  Elegy  is  the  large- 
silver  urn  alluded  to  by  Dr.  Mullock,  which  was  presented 
to  Dr.  O'Donel  by  the  peoi)le  of  St.  John's.  It  was  at  the 
time  of  .T.  E.'s  connnunication  (18;U)  in  possession  of  Father 
^Michael  O'Donel,  of  Clashmoro,  from  whom  it  passed  to  Father 


\ 


OF   NEWFOUNDl.AND. 


217 


O'DoniKiU,  of  ILin'owiiiiio,  in  whose  possession  it  now  is. 
"The  urn,"  he  writes,  "is  safe  in  my  keejirni;^.  It  I)eiirs, 
without  (lute,  the  toMowiniiJ  inscription  :  '  Presented  to  the 
lit.  llev.  James  O'Donc^l,  D.D.,  hy  th(^  inlial)itants  of  St. 
Jolm's,  Xesv-found-huul,  in  testimony  of  his  pious,  patriotic, 
and  meritorious  conduct  durini;'  a  residence  amon<^  them  of 
23  years.'  This  urn,"  contimu'S  Father  O'Donnell,  "  liis 
l)ectoral  cr«,ss,  rini>-,  i>loves,  false  teetii,  and  stole,  are  the 
only  articles  belonuiuij;"  to  him  now  remaininu',  as  far  as  I 
know."  The  urn  or  cup  did  not  actually  arrive^  in  New- 
foundland, but  was  received  by  Dr.  ()T)on<d  in  liristol.  In 
his  letter  to  his  nephew  he  speaks  of  it  as  follows  :  — 

"  Alessr.  Elmes,  Ivennio,  aiul  Mcliraire  waited  on  me  a 
little  before  my  dei)arture,  and  said  they  intended  to  ])resent 
me  a  silver  cu})  at  St.  John's;  but  as  it  did  not  arrive,  re- 
(juested  to  kno\v  where  it  shoidd  be  addressed  to  nu'.  It  is 
now  in  my  ]iossession,  and  one  of  the  tinest  })ieces  of  plate 
that  has  ever  been  seen  at  Bristol.  The  devices,  raised 
work,  and  other  ornaments  are  tinished  with  ex(|iusite  tast(; 
and  elei:ance.  It  cost  150  guineas,  so  that  3'ou  see  my 
friends  were  not  paying  me  empty  compliments." 

This  letter,  so  often  alluded  to,  dcsci'ibes,  in  pleasant  and 
easy  style,  the  incidents  of  the  voyage.  It  is  written  ui)on 
very  rough  pa[)er  of  large  si/e,  unruled,  in  a  good  hand  of 
anti(iue  style,  containing  souk^  old-fashioned  aI)l)reviations. 
It  is  folded,  of  course,  without  enveloi)e,  and  is  fast  crumb- 
ling to  pieces.  The  seal  in  red  wax  is  ahnost  entirely  gone, 
and  the  r)ristol  post-mark  nearly  oI)literated.  The  address 
on  the  outside  is  rather  (piaint :  — 

"Kev'  Michael  O'Donel  to  be  forwarded  by 

'"  M''  Daniel  Murphy,  Shopkeei)er 

"Broad  street 

"  St  rad bally 

"  Waterford 

"Ireland." 


218 


ECCLKSIASTK'AL 


\m 


Ilaviii*;  thus  »»Tiii)hi('ally  dcscri.        the  t'lnbiirkation,  Dr. 
O'Doiu'l  I'oiitiniies  :  — 


"At  sea  Licutcnsinl-Gencral  Dospard,  Governor  of  Cape 
Briton,  and  liis  Lady  wore  my  nicssniates,  and  ai^rcoahlo 
companions  tlu'y  were  ;  but  were  liiuldy  astonishod  at  the 
lionor  done  me  l)y  the  Leadinu"  nuMi  of  the  })lat'e.  She  told 
mc  tlie  King's  Son  could  cxi)ect  no  more  I  ]\IcBrairc  said, 
'  JSFor  even  .so  much.'' '  I  put  in  a  sea  stock  that  would  render 
.all  of  us  coinfortahlc  to  China,  as  I  was  loaded  Avith  presents 
of  all  kinds  l)y  tlu;  Hyans,  Elmes,  and  country  farmers, 
Avho  sent  me  at  least  40  pounds  of  fresh  buttcn- ;  in  short, 
I  had  so  many  su])ertluous  articles  that  I  sent  most  of 
theiu  to  ]M"*  Ai^assiz,  Avho  remained  at  McCarthy's  Planta- 
tion  till  his  return. ''  This  was  the  Captain's  lad}'.  The  ship 
was  named  the  "l\attler."  "We  had  a  very  good  soup  and 
four  dishes  of  fresh  meat  every  day  at  Dinner.  Port,  iVIa- 
deira,  and  Sherry  in  })lenty,  of  which  we  left  1;")  dozen  of 
bottles  unconsumed  .aboard,  together  with  a  large  stock  of 
poultry,  l)ecf,  fatt  sheep,  &e.  The  Captain  can  well  go  and 
come  ui)on  our  leavings  ;  we  likewyse  h.ad  every  day  a  divert, 
consisting  of  preserV'  Plumbs,  Strawberries,  Cheries,  fresh 
oraires,  shadocks,  &c.  If  \\\\  Epicure  like  Maddoek  had 
been  among  us  he'd  wish  for  2  months'  passaije.  ^M"  P>ol- 
lard  and  Pictsy  McCurdy  were  Passengers  in  the  gun-room. 
The  latter  is  married  to  the  Pursar  of  the  'K"",'  l)y  ))u-th 
an  Irishman,  and  by  i)rofession  a  nominal  Catholick  of  the 
tepid  kind.  I  remained  only  2  days  .at  Portsmouth  to  take 
a  view  of  the  wonderful  machinery  in  the  Dock  yard  all 
moved  by  the  steam  of  one  lire.  They  are  well  worth  ihe 
Traveller's  notice,  and  can't  fail  of  exciting  his  astonish- 
ment. I  cjune  thence  to  my  old  friends  M''  and  M''  But- 
ler, where  I  am  very  comfortal)le,  and  perfectly  at  home, 
and  where  I  met  Joseph  Ryan  who  was  my  guide  and  com- 
panion thro'  the  streets  at  Bristol.     He  is  temi)erate  in  his 


'  .Tames  McHrairc,  K^ti.,  f'oimdci-  of  llie  Irisli  .Sociuty,  of  whom  more  shall  be  .said 
farther  on. 


OK   NEWFOUNDLAND. 


21!) 


living,  clear  in  iiis  underslandinj;,  and  sound  in  lii.s  judgc- 
nicnt.  Ho  parted  me  on  tiic  2!»"'  of  Au<rnst  for  Liverpool 
to  proceed  thenee  to  St.  Jolm's.  My  Furniture  sold  well 
except  what  I  gave  D'"  Lambert,  wlilcli  would  sell  nmch 
higher  had  tliey  been  dis^josed  of  at  public  vendue.  I'll 
remain  lun-e  until  Oct()l)er,  and  probably  then  go  to  London 
for  some  days.  I  dine  nowhere  out  )f  this  house  but  at 
the  Eev'"  ^M""  Ploughdon's,  Lady  Doager  tingal's,  and  one 
Sibby's  a  Banker  from  London,  there  are  many  more  at 
Clifden  M'ho  wish  to  see  me,  ()  Sliea,  M""  Brown,  but  I 
feel  more  comfort  by  dining  at  home  than  by  attending  such 
gentry  as  those.  I  am  going  tomorrow  to  see  the  Bishop  of 
Bath,  uho  has  been  a  Benedictin  Monk,  and  is  in  a  bad  state 
of  health.  He  has  got  a  coadjutor  of  the  Order  of  St.  Francis 
to  succeed  him,  whose  Bulls  are  arrived  and  whose  conse- 
cration is  soon  to  take  i)lacc  to  which  I  am  asked."  [Then 
follows  "Domestick  Intelligence."  concerning  certain  jjarlies 
of  St.  John's  who  have  died  or  been  married,  etc.,  and  it 
thus  concludes]  :  "I  am  now  tired,  and  e.xpect  you'll  Avrite 
to  me  by  return  of  Poste.  Present  my  allectionate  com- 
pliments to  all  friends  at  Cionmell  and  elsewhere,  and  believe 
nu^  to  be 

"  Vour  loving  Uncle, 

"JAMES   O'DOXEL. 

"HiUSTui.,  Soi)t('iiilHT  till-  ;"',  1S()7." 


V 


There  is  a  long  i)ostscript  on  business  and  mono}'  matters. 
He  comi)lains  of  a  young  lad,  "a  nuilish  junk  of  a  boy, 
who'll  never  do  any  good  for  himself  or  anyl)ody  else." 
His  name  is  Phelan.  No  doubt  a  ne})hew  or  son  of  ]Mrs. 
Phelan,  mentioned  before.  He  has  cost  him  ovi'r  £40,  but 
he  has  gone  to  Boston,  where  he  intends  to  earn  his  bread, 
"as  he  says  by  his  vuntlal  oj)erations.  .  .  .  He 
could  get  £80  for  2  years  from  (Quarry  at  l*orte-de-(irave, 
and  have  nothing  to  do  but  attend  shop,  but  he  would  not 
serve  any  man  on  earth  for  so  long  a  time."  Of  his  other 
nephew,  Sullivan,  he  speaks  in  high  terms  of  praise. 


220 


ECCLKSIASTICAL    IllSTOKV 


' 


"Sullivan  is  ii  tall,  liaiidsoino,  aocornplislicd  yomify  man, 
111  to  keep  {'ompany  with  lliosi?  of  llic  lirst  rank  auywiicrc."' 
lie  c'()ni[)lains  also  of  sonu!  of  the  yorvants  liavinn'  stolen  "(I 
jiuinciis  and  a  half,"  and  either  stolen  or  hiu'nt  "  Hills  firsts 
and  2'"''*  £;*2,  which  are  a  very  ffn'at  loss;"  but  he  winds  up 
philosophieally  with  the  aphorism,  "  \o  help  for  Misfortunes  I" 

The  Father  Michael  O'Donel  whom  he  addresses  is  the 
priest  who  was  out  in  Newfoundland  with  him,  and  who  only 
r"tnrned  to  Ireland  the  previous  year,  IHOl!.  He  was  for 
seventeen  years  P.P.  of  Clashmore,  where  he  died,  in  March, 
1832. 

I  am  indehtcd  auain  to  Father  Michael  O'Domiell,  of 
Ilarrowuate,  for  the  followinii'  additional  information  con- 
e(!rnini>'  th(!  last  vcars  of  Dr.  O'Donel:  ''The  Bishoi),  on 
his  return  from  Newfoundland,  visited  the  j>raves  of  his 
ancestors,  in  the  grounds  of  the  old  monastic  ruins  at  Kil- 
ronan,  Co.  Waterford,  three  and  one-half  miles  from  Clon- 
mel, — and  had  erected  there  a  monument  "  which  sc^ts  forth 
that  the  \{\.  Rev.  Dr.  O'Donel  had  placed  it  there  to  the 
memory  of  his  father,  Michacd  O'Donel,  who  died  at  the  a_i>e 
of  (58  on  the  2()th  of  XovemI)er,  17()7  ;  and  of  his  mother, 
Amt  (Crosby),  who  died  on  the  10th  of  November,  1785, 
aged  ()()  ;  and  of  his  brother.  Rev.  Michael  O'Donel,  O.S.F., 
who  died  on  the  2()th  of  June,  17!H),  aged  (>(). 

Dr.  O'Donel  spent  the  remainder  of  his  days  in  Water- 
ford,  riie  long  life  was  now  drawing  to  a  close.  lie  died 
the  death  of  the  Just,  in  the  year  1811 .  in  the  seventy-fourth 
year  of  his  age.  Ills  remains  wen^  transferred  to  Clonmel, 
and  buried  in  the  old  cha})id  of  St.  Clary's,  Irishtown.  "A 
tombstone,  still  to  be  seen,"  writes  Dr.  Mullock,  185(5,  "was 
placed  over  him,  and  on  it  was  engraved  this  ei)itaph,  written, 
it  is  said,  bv  himself:  — 


i 


"'IIkhr  lik  thk  Moktal  Kkmaixs  of  the  Rioiit  Rrv 
James  ODoxkl  liisiioi'  of  Tiiyatiua,  the  fikst  qualified 

AIISSIONAUY  WHO  EVEK  AVEXT  TO  XeWFOUNDLAM),  W  HEKE  HE 


OF    NKWFOUNDLANl). 


221 


SPRNT  2.'l  YKAH8,  AS   PliKFIHT  AM)  ViCAR    ApOSTOLIC  OF   TIIK 

SAID  ]Srissi(t\.      IIi;  I)K1'.\i;ti:i)  this  lifk  o\  tiik  l.Viii  of 

ApIML    1^11     l\    TIIK   74tII  YI:AU  (»F    his  A(iF.       MaV   IIF   UK8T 

IN  pkack.     A.mkn." 


r>('iiii:'  ill  Trcliiiul  in  18()0,  I  niiulc  m  i)il<;i'iniii_iro  to  tin* 
shriiu!  of  the  iirst  apostle  iiiul  Hislioj)  ot'oui"  Islaiul,  l>ut,  alas  ! 
no  vesti«i;o  conld  1  liiid  of  liis  last  rcstinu-placc  ;  not  a  n^lic 
of  tiio  inonumont  or  inscription  to  hi*  seen  I  Kxtcnsivc  alter- 
ations have  heen  tnjule  in  the  clniich,  and  everytliing  in  the 
shape  of  anti(jiiity  has  been  swept  away  ! 

"When  1  was  a  .i^ehool-hov  at  Cahir,"  writes  Father 
O'Donnell,  of  Ilarrowuate,  "in  the  year  1837,  I  sometimes 
visited  my  native  town,  Clonmel,  and  often  stopped  to  read 
the  ins('ri()tion  on  the  tomb  of  the  liishoi)  in  thi!  eliapel  yard 
of  Irishtown.  It  stood  then  where  a  confessional  stands  now, 
in  the  new  and  enlarued  clmrcli,  and  its  disjecta  membra  arc 
liidden  away  in  an  ()l)scnre  passasio  behind  the  church  where 
Dr.  Baldwin,  tlu^  parish  i)riest,  pointed  them  out  to  me  shortly 
after  their  removal  from  their  oriuinal  site."'  Is  it  too  late  to 
hoi)e  that  these  i)recious  ilrhn's  may  b(^  irathered  toucthcr 
and  reset,  or  at  least  plac<'d  in  a  monument  worthy  of  this 
noble  man,  to  whom  Newfoundland  owes  so  much,  and  of 
whom  no  memorial  of  any  kind  exists  anionu'  us? 

"It  is  ditiicult,"  writes  Dr.  Mullock,  "now  even  to  con- 
ceive the  obstacles  a  liishop  had  to  encounter  duriiii^  the 
period  of  Dr.  O'Donel's  ])relacy  in  Newfoundland.  The  sul- 
len and  unwillinu:  jjiotection  oll'ered  him  by  the  Government, 
availinii  itself  of  his  intliuMice  and  still  hating  and  insidtinir 
its  benefactor ;  the  tyrannical  conduct  of  the  i)ctty  otilciais 
to  Catholics,  which  ho  was  frequently  obliged  to  overlook  in 
silence  ;  the  rampant  biirotry  of  many  uneducated  Protes- 
tants, who  knew  nothiniif  of  Catholicity  hut  what  they  learnt 
from  r)th-of-Xovember  sermons  ;  the  diflii-ulties  of  commu- 
nication, for  the  whole  Island  was  then  an  impassabl(3  wilder- 
ness, without  a  sin<:le  mile  of  road  ;  the  ianorancc  of  the 
so-called  '  better  class,'  so  that  a  man  like  the  Bishop,  used 


■>•)•) 


KCCLKSIASTICAL   IIISTOKV 


;  ii 


'Tin;     OI.K     I'AI.AlT.. 


/r.vj  l.y.Cj^-..X/c.i 


to  the  I'ctincd  sotii-tA'  of  the  nobilitv  of  Ciilholic  (lormanv, 
was  completely  isolated  aiuoiiiir  tlu^ni  ;  the  paiicity  of  inis- 
sioiiers,  and  the  impossibility  of  that  close  surveillance  which 
a  Bislio})  is  hound  to  exercise  over  his  clerixy  and  people, — 
such  were  a  few  of  the  ditiicullies  the  ])ioneer  of  Catholicity 
had  to  encoiuiter  in  this  country.  AVell  and  nohly  was  tin* 
duty  perfoi'med  l)y  J)r.  O'Donel  ;  no  difliculties  daunted  him, 
no  sliji'ht  or  rehulf  discoui'aii^ed  him,  no  dangers  ai)palled 
him.      lie  i)Ut  his  hand  to  the  ])lough,  and  never  looked  back 


OF    NK\VF()1:NI)LAM>. 


22a 


till  llif  irood  seed  wns  sown,  now,  thank  God  I  so  abnndunlly 
fructil'yinii',  and  wliich  lias  made  Xowloiindland  on»!  of  the 
most   llouiisliinn'  ))ortions  of  (rod's  vineyard. 

"The  inipulso  u;iv('n  to  C'atliolk'ity  l)y  tlui  aijpointnu'nt  ol" 
Dr.  O'Doncl  as  Vicar  Apostolic  and  Bishop  had  a  yrcal 
('(feci,  oven  on  (he  material  pros[)erlty  of  tin;  Island.  It  was 
a  rccoii^nition,  if  we  may  sc^  term  it,  of  the  tixity  of  l(MUire  of 
the  |)o|)ulation.  The  rnd*'  answei-  of  (Jovernor  MilhanUe  to 
the  IJishop's  petition  for  leave  to  aiiirmcnt  tlu;  niunbei-  ol" 
chapels  pro\es  that  England  s'ill  hoped  to  keep  the  Island 
11  desert, — '  It  was  not  the  interest  of  England  that  |)eoj)l(> 
should  winter  i.i  the  Island'!  And  Ik!  blames  tlu;  liishoi) 
and  Catholic  clerjiy  for  inducing  them  to  make  it  their  home. 
In  ti'uth,  whatever  im|)r()vement  has  bectn  made  in  the  country 
is  almost  altoi:'eth(  r  due  to  tlu!  Catholic  cU-rgv.  I'ncon- 
nected  with  (j()V(>rmnent,  and  indcfx'ndent  of  meii'antile  in- 
terest, they  looked  to  the  advantage  of  the  people  alone.  In 
every  struggle  for  })opulai'  amelioration  they  always  took  the 
lead,  and  thereby  eariie(l  the  undying  hatred  of  thos(!  who 
desired  to  kiH'p  Newfoundland  a  mere  tishing-station  for  the 
advantage  of  English  interests  and  mercantile  monopoly. 

"As  soon  as  they  were  permitted,  and  in  many  cases  eviMi 
before  i)ermissi()ii  was  obtained,  they  studded  tin;  Island  with 
chajjcls  and  parochial  residences.  They  encouraged  the  peo- 
ple in  ever}-  settlement  to  clear  land  and  cultivate  gardens, 
and  in  most  cases  were  the  only  shield  between  the  people 
and  mercantile  rai)acity  ;  for  in  those  days,  though  the  Xew- 
foundland  merchants  were  in  many  cases  me"  of  wealth,  still 
they  fre<|ue.itly  left  nothing  after  them  but  the  memory  of 
their  harshness  and  a  few  rotten  wooden  erections.  Xo 
churches,  schools,  hos})itals,  or  asylums  for  decayed  tishermen 
exist  to  hand  down  the  grateful  remembrance  of  even  one 
Newfoundland  merchant  to  ))osterity  ;  and  still  thes(!  were  the 
persons  who  invariably  opposed  every  improvement,  and  who, 
to  use  the  words  of  the  Attorney-General  to  Sir  Thomas 
Cochrane,  '  would  as  soon  think  of  making  a  ship  at  sea  their 
permanent  residence  as  Newfoundland.' "     Such  is  the  grai)hic 


I 

i 


I'      1 

u   1 


224 


ECCLESIASTICAL  IIISTOKV 


iiiul  f()rcil)lo  pii'turo  drawn  l)y  Dr.  Mullock  of  the  state  of 
Xcwtoiinillaiul  at  tliis  iicriod.  In  .sonic  })()ints  it  may  bo 
tliouiiiit  to  1)0  a  lillK^  ovcM'drawn  ;  yet  the  strong  indictment 
against  tlu^  whilom  merchants  is  eonlirmcd  hy  all  contem- 
porary writers  and  hy  facts.  Jt  may  i)erha})s  he  urged  that 
ii  change  of  circumstances,  and  the  march  of  events  have 
brought  about  a  new  state  of  things  ;  that  many  of  our  ))rin- 
cipal  merchants  are  now  residents  of  the  country,  with  their 
town-houses  and  country  villas  ;  y(>t  recent  events  show  that 
it  is  hard  to  eradicate  the  old  prejudices. 

A  census  of  the  po})ulation  was  taken  in  LSOfi,  and  it  was 
estimated  at  2(!,r)05.  In  all  probability  the  Catholics  were 
more  than  half.  There  were  al)out  six  clergymen  i)erma- 
neutly  established  in  the  Island,  — two  in  St.  John's,  one  in 
Placentia,  two  in  Concejjtion  Hay,  and  one  at  Ferryland. 
The  northern  jjortion  of  tlu^  Island  and  Labrador  were  vis- 
ited from  St.  John's,  and  the  baptisms  and  marriages  per- 
formed there  registered  in  the  St.  John's  books.  Chapels 
also  were  built  lu^fore  Dr.  O'Doncl's  dei)arture  in  St.  John's, 
Harbor  (Jrace,  Placentia,  Carbineers',  and  Ferryland. 

Sui'h  are  all  the  data  whii'li  can  be  gleaned  of  the  life  and 
labors  of  this  good  and  saintly  Uishop.  He  may  truly  l)e 
called  the  "  A[)ostle  of  Xewfoundlantl ;  and  though  some  of 
the  details  may  ai)i)ear  triHing  to  outsiders,  they  are  dearly 
interesting  to  us,  his  spiritual  children.  I'hcy  h't  in  a  few 
side-lights  upon  the  historic  picture  of  the  times,  and  give  us 
a  glim})se  at  the  social  state  of  Xewfoundlaiid  at  this  p(>riod. 

As  to  his  great  ((ualities  of  I'ourage  and  zeal,  we  must  let 
his  works  sjieak  for  him.  His  lerter  shows  him  a  man  of 
])lain  and  simple  tastes,  though  of  Avide  worldly  experience, 
full  of  sound  sense  aiid  playful  amiability  ;  a  true  pastor,  who 
"knew  his  tlock  "  individually,  and  was  not  above  taking  a 
lively  interest  in  th(>  smallest  domestic  allairs,  even  of  the 
hund)lest  among  them.  Such  was  Dr.  O'Donel,  whose  mem- 
ory is  forever  embalmed  in  the  hearts  of  the  faithful  of  Xew- 
foundlaiid. 


1*1 


■SI 


OF  NEWFOUNDLAND. 


22.) 


CHAPTER  X\^II. 


EDUCATIONAL    IXSTriTTIOXS. 

Tlu' "  ]5onov()l(MU  Irisli  Sociotv  "  —  The  "  Orpliiin  Asvlmn"  —  Slate  of  Kiliiciitioii  in 
the  I>lilinl  —  Its  \':iriiiii'<  I'liasi-s  'J'niccil — The  Irish  Society's  Schools — l''iilhoi- 
Fk'iiilii;;  ICiuiciivors  to  ;;('!  Coiitiol of  tliciu,  18'Ji)^  I'l'otcstaiit  Kihicalioual  In- 
stitutions—  Fiisl  Kdiiciition  Act,  KSIo — Foumlatioii  of  I'l'otcstaiit  ;■  m1  Callioiic 
('ollc;;cs,  1814  —  (icncral  Aiailciny  of  St.  John's  —  I'ornialion  of  the  Koinan 
Catholic,  Chui'ch  of  ICnj;lanil,  ami  (iL'nci'al  Protestant  Academies,  IH.'iO  —  OiH'nin;^' 
of  St.  lionavcnlnre's  Colle;;c,  liS,'i,">  —  ICstahlishment  of  Wcsleyan  Academy, 
18r)8  —  Dr.  Mullock's  Views  on  Education  —  "The  Monks" — The  Christian 
IJrothers. 


m» 


^piIFi  sociiil  sxiitlierinir  so  luuvch/  sketclu'd  \)\  ])r.  O'DoncI 
-*-  gives  us  ii  pi't'pat  tin;  slal(^  ot"  socicly  in  St.  .Tohn's  at  the 
Ix'iiinning  of  the  prcst'iit  century  ;  and  it  nuist  he  eonfessed 
that  the  {)ieture  on  whieli  he  (U'aws  aside  the  eui'lain  is  si 
very  pleasant  one  indeed.  From  it  we  e:in  judii'e  that  St. 
John's  at  that  (inie  litul  mach'  no  piiiiny  stritU-s  in  tlie 
path  of  advaneenient  and  soeitii  developniiMil,  and  thtit  Dr. 
(TDoneTs  i)()sitit)n  was  not  aUogether  so  isolated  iis  Dr. 
Mullock  Avould  have  us  believe.  A  city  in  which  souie  forty 
odd  i)ersons  could  sit  down  in  a  })iU)li('  room  to  such  a  suni))- 
tuous  and  eleii'ant  repsist  as  that  described  must  have  possessed 
all  the  amenities  and  st)othin<i'  intlucnces  of  i-ivilizcd  life  ;  tmd 
society  must  have  achieved  ii  considerid)le  deuree  of  culture. 
And,  incU'cd,  such  Wiis  the  ctise.  One  of  the  surest  sijiiis  of 
the  advancement  of  social  comfort  and  the  elevation  of  public 
tiistc  is  the  oru'tmizalion  of  clul)s  or  institutes  for  intellectual, 
educational,  oi'  benevolent  objects, — iissocititions  in  which 
men  meet  toiicther  to  exchiuiu'c  mulutd  converse,  to  assist 
etu'h  other,  both  tenn)oridIy,  morally,  and  inlclleclutilly,  and 
thus  attain  the  hi<ihest  deuree  of  huiuiin  culture.  Such  litis 
been  the  natural  course  of  civic  and  naliontd  iiroirress  from 
the   times  of  the   ancient  Circeks  tind  Koniiiiis,  with  their 


1  ' 


226 


ECCLESIASTICAL  IIISTOIIV 


{iciuU'inie.s,  their  lyceums,  tlioii*  foninis,  down  to  our  own 
times,   with  their  elul)s,  and  inslitutes,  iuid  cerdes. 

So,  then,  !i8  ii  natural  conse(|u<'nce  of  the  niareh  of  events, 
we  find  the  people  of  Si.  John's  at  thi.s  date  ])utting  forth  the 
tirst  blossoms  of  her  literary  and  eharitahle  harvest.  Those 
two  other  indisjiensahle  helj)mates  of  eivilization  —  the  post- 
oHiee  and  the  newspajjer — also  spruni>'  into  existenee  in  this 
year  of  lSO(i. 

'I'he  spirit  of  reli2:i()us  persecution  had  ceased.  Peace  and 
harmony  reiiiiicd  anionu*  all  classes,  owinu,  no  doubt,  in  a 
ii'reat  measure  to  tlu'  i)ru(lence.  good  sense,  and  kindly  heart 
of  the  Kt.  Kev.  Dr.  O'Donel.  Men  began  to  think  of 
drawing  together  more  closely  by  th(!  l)onds  of  friendship 
and  fellow-citizenship.  To  this  jieriod,  then,  we  owe  the  in- 
stitution of  "The  lienevolcnt  Irish  Society,"  an  institute; 
which  to-day,  after  its  eighty  years  of  existence,  is  in  a 
nourishing  and  ever-advancing  condition,  mnnbering  among 
its  associates  nearly  all  of  our  citizens  who  either  come 
directly  from  the  shores  of  the  Old  Jjand,  or  who  glory  in 
the  rememl)ranc(>  that  their  ancestors  claim  as  the  land  of 
theii"  birth  the  "green  tields  of  Erin.*' 

The  society  was  founded  by  one  of  those  mentioned  with 
sonnu'h  feeling  by  Dr.  ( )"Donel  in  the  letter  elsewhere  quoted  ; 
a  man  of  large  and  charitable  soul,  warm  and  generous  heart, 
and  who  evidently  was  a  sincere  t'riend  of  the  l>islio])"s, — 
namely,  James  Mci^raire,  Escj.,  merchant,  of  St.  John's.  He 
was  a  true  Irishman,  though  not  a  Ivonian  Catholic.  "He 
was  a  man,"  says  Dr.  Eleming,  writing  to  Dr.  Spratt, 
'  always  remark. ii>le  t'or  the  nnmilicence  of  his  donations  to 
the  poor  and  his  kindness  to  the  Catholic  cli'rgy."  H(!  was 
Presidi'ut  of  the  Irish  Society  for  «_rleveii  consecutive  years, 
from  lt>(>!>  to  1)^21.  Though  the  most  ])rominent  person 
in  the  establishment  of  the  society,  he  did  not  accept  the 
presidency  at  llrst,  being  |)rcce(led  in  that  oflice  by  two 
others,  —  Captain  AVinckworth  Tonge  (18()(!  to  1808)  and 
Lieut. -Colonel  John  Murray  (1808  to  1809). 

As  stated  above,  Mr.  Mdiraire  was  not  a  Catholic;  henco 


% 


9M 


OF   NEWFOUNDLAND. 


227 


wm 


the  society,  in  i(sori<rin,  was  not  a  relhjimis  or  denominational 
socii'ty.  Mo  mention  of  reliuions  profession  is  made  in  its 
constitution.  At  the  outset  tlie  patronage  of  tiie  society  was 
under  tlie  u'overnor  for  tlie  time  l)einu'.  The  oufiroinir  ])resi- 
dentslx'came  vice-})atr()ns  chirintr  their  lives.  Hence,  in  l'S22, 
wlien  Patrick  Morris,  Es(|.,  was  oU'ctcd  as  the  first  Catholic 
presich'iit,  we  tind  I'eii'istered  as  vii-e-presidents  and  founders 
of  the  society,  "  Ilis  Kxcelh^ncy  jVIaJor-Gcneral  ^Murray, 
Governor  of  Demerara,"  and  ''James  McDraire,  Ks(|.,  hitc 
i\Iajor-('onunandant  of  tlie  St.  John's  A'olunteer  IJanirers, 
now  of  Tweed  Hill,  lierwick."  Still,  as  a  matter  of  course, 
the  Koniaii  Catholic  l)i>liop,  as  a  leadin<i"  Catholic  <rentleman 
in  the  Island,  was  eiven  a  ])i()ininent  place  in  the  orijaniza- 
tion  of  the  society.  The  iireliminary  meeting  "  of  a  number 
of  Irish  _i>('iitleinen,  desirous  of  relievin<>'  the  wants  and  dis- 
tresses of  their  countrymen  and  t\d low-creatures  at  large,  was 
held  at  the  London  Tavern,  in  St.  John's,  on  ^^'edn(>sday,  the 
Atli  Fehruary,  iSOli.  It  was  unaniinonsly  agreed  'That  a 
society,  formed  upon  true  principles  of  ))eiievol(>nct!  and 
philantliroi)y,  would  l»e  the  most  elfectual  mode  of  establishing 
a  ])ermaiuMit  ndief  to  the  wretched  aiul  distressed.'  Under 
this  conviction,  it  was  ])roposed  to  elei't  a  committee  from 
the  gentlemen  present  to  form  a  ccxh'  of  I'ules  and  regulations 
fortius  ijfovermnent  of  the  societN'.  the  extension  and  reirn- 
lations  of  the  charity,  and  to  consult  with  the  lit.  Uev. 
Doctor  ( )'l)onel  and  others,  whose  local  knowledge  of  this 
country  could  l>est  infc/rm  them  as  to  the  most  ('H'eclual  and 
l)eneticial  mode  of  establishing  a  CiiAiMTAr.LK  Iinsn  SofiKTY 
uiion  tinii  i)iiiiciples  of  loyalty,  true  benevolence,  and  phi- 
lanthropy, when  the  following  gentlemen  weri'  nominated 
and  unanimously  chosen  :  Lieut. -Col.  John  Murray,  flames 
^Icllraii-c,  L-(|..  dohn  Mtdvelloi),  Esip,  Mr.  Jo.s(>ph  Church, 
Captain  Wiiickworth  'I'oiige." 

From  this  it  will  be  si>en  that  the  soci'>ty  was  jiurely 
uiisectarian  in  its  origin,  and  all  denominations  of  Christians 
were  admissible  to  its  ranks,  the  only  (|ualilications  re(|uired 
being  that  one  should  be  either  an  Irishman  or  u  descendant 


228 


ECCLESIASTICAL   HISTORY 


of  an  Irishman.  And  altliougli,  in  the  conrso  of  tiino,  the 
society  became  practically  an  exclnsively  Catholic  society,  as 
the  lines  of  denominational  demarcation  became  more  dis- 
tinctlv  delined  in  the  coimtrv,  yet  the  rnles  and  con.stitntions 
on  this  head  were  never  altered  ;  and,  absolutely  speakinii',  a 
member  of  any  sect  mii>ht  to-day  be  i)resented  for  admission, 
thouiih  such  is  not  liUely  ever  to  occur. 

The  oltject  of  the  society  was  twofold,  —  benevolent  or 
charitable,  and  intellectual  or  educational.  'i'o  carry  out 
these  views,  an  ammal  fee  of  four  dollars  was  demanded 
from  each  member.  This  was  the  mu'leus  of  a  fund  which, 
as  we  shall  see,  grew  to  mii>iity  |)roi)ortioiis,  and  })r()duce(l 
noble  works  ;  a  yearly  allocation  was  made  of  money,  cloth(>s, 
fuel,  and  provisions,  for  the  poor.  Only  tiu^  ixiH-ordiuii' 
Anu'cl  knows  the  thousands  of  cases  of  povei'ty  relieved  by 
tins  society  during  the  past  eighty  A'cars.  It  was  not  many 
years  in  existence  when  it  was  dcMMned  necessary.  I'or  the 
carrying  out  of  the  twofold  oltject  of  the  society,  to  erect  a 
building  which  should  contain  both  a  public  hall  for  soi-ial 
and  intellectual  gatherings,  and  a  suite  of  schools  for  poor 
children.  Accordingly,  in  the  year  182(1,  a  plot  of  gi'omul 
was  secured  in  th(>  rear  of  the  town,  and  the  buihling  so  long 
and  familiarly  known  as  ''The  Oi-phan  Asylmn"  was  erected. 
It  was  opened  on  the  27th  May,  1S27.  It  had  som(>  )ire- 
tensions  to  JU'chitci'ture,  having  a  fanciful  central  tower 
and  jtortico,  called  "The  Observatory."  It  was,  at  the  time 
of  its  erection,  considered  one  of  the  neatest  buildings  in 
the  city,  and  was  nmch  admired  by  the  typical  "Out-liarbor- 
man,"  on  his  amuial  visit  to  the  capital.  The  uppei'  portion 
of  the  building  contained  the  gi-and  itaiupieting  hail,  where 
for  over  half-a-century  sons  of  St.  I'atrick  held  their  yearly 
dinners,  balls,  and  reunions.  ]Many  a  lively  song  and  soul- 
stirring  speech  have  made  those  old  walls  resound  ;  many  a 
hearty  cheer  or  ringing  laugh  has  made  the  chandcdicrs 
rattle;  and  many  are  the  happy — and  not  few  the  sad  — 
memories  which  circle  around  the  old  spot,  recalling  thos(! 
who  ari'  gone,  who  once  tilh-d  the  highest  places  in  the  land. 


.1 


i 


OF   NEWFOUNDLAND. 


229 


1 


I 


Tho  lower  portion  of  the  buildiiiir  was  devoted  to  the  teaeh- 
in<r  of  poor  cliildron.  It  was  placed  under  the  eliariLTciof  a 
master,  and  between  four  and  live  hundred  eliildren  of  both 
sexes  were  instrueti'd  therein.  It  would  appeal'  that  by  this 
time  the  society  had  l)cc()me  practically  a  Catliollc  society, 
yet  they  still  strictly  adheri'd  to  their  rules  as  a  non-deiior/i- 
inatioual  body.  The  Kt.  Kev.  Dr.  Fleminii',  in  his  letters 
to  Dr.  S[)ratt,  18/54,  and  also  in  a  ''  Ti('lar:!(»ie"'  of  the  state 
of  reliiiion  in  Xewfoundland,  addressed  to  tlu^.  Cardinal  Pre- 
f(>ct  of  l*r()i)ai!:!inda  in  l^;')?,  complains  of  this  state  of  allairs. 
"The  schools,"  he  says,  "of  tli(^  lienevolent  Irish  Society 
continued  to  enjoy  public  confidence  because  they  were 
based  on  [non-denominational]  princi))1es.  And,  indeed,  so 
jealous  wi're  this  body  of  the  ciiaractev  the}'  had  accpiired, 
tiiat.  althouu'h  for  some  years  a  sinijle  Protestant  child  had 
not  been  sent  to  the  school,  yet  not  only  would  the  conmi it- 
tee  of  that  exclusively  Catholic  body  not  permit  the  Catho- 
lic Catechism  to  be  tauiz'ht,  merely  as  a  task,  in  school  by 
the  hiastei',  but  they  stood  up  in  opjiosition  to  the  jjriests 
who  attem[)ted  to  'l\\'v  the  children  I'diLMous  instruction  I'vvii 
afh'V  xcliooJ  hours."'  In  his  "  Ji<'/(t::io)ie"  he  li'oes  more  i)ar- 
ticularly  into  this  matter.  lie  says  he  went  to  the  school 
himself  to  teach  the  reliirious  instruction,  but  was  refused 
admittance  by  what  he  vnWs  ''  r/ucsfi  CdtloUct  lihcnili .'''  He 
says,  however,  that  those  who  strongly  opposed  him  were 
only  six  in  munlx'i'.  As  soon  as  he  was  api)ointed  coadjutor 
to  Dr.  Scallan  (1S2!')  he  auain  turned  his  attention  to  the 
school,  and,  fortified  by  his  new  authority,  \\i-  succeeded  in 
prepariuiT  sonu*  lour  hundred  children  tor  First  Comnum- 
ion,  and  determined  to  make  a  jjuliliv'  display  on  the  occa- 
sion. His  opponents  went  to  the  I)isho[)  (Dr.  Scallan) 
and  represented  that  the  spectacle  of  so  many  children 
adorned  in  Icstive  robes  miLtlit  cause  some  displeasure  to 
the  Protestants.  Dr.  Fleminu',  however,  carried  his  ])oint, 
and  ii'ave  the  children  (\)mmunion  in  the  public  t'lmivh.  A 
few  days  aft»M',  a  larue  number  of  Catholics  called  on  Dr. 
Flemiuii"  and  conuratulated  him,  and  the  "  C'ouncil  of  Liberals 


230 


p:cclesiastical  history 


was  disbniulod,"  niid  "  from  that  lime  forward  llic  school  has 
het'ii  jilacod  under  my  iiiuncdiatc  suporvisiou."' 

Iloro  Avo  have  the  history  of  the  <'oinnioiiconiont  of  Iho 
iireat  liijfht  for  (^atholic  cMhicatioii.  What  a  coiilrast  these 
words  reveal  with  tlie  state  of  tliinfj;s  t()-(lay,  wlieii  not  four 
luinch'ed,  l>ut  four  f/iniisand,  children  niareli  annually  with 
"festive  robes,"  with  hands  and  banners,  throuirh  the  princi- 
pal streets  of  the  town  ;  and  when  our  Prolestant  friends  of 
all  denominations  not  only  (h)  not  take  umhrau'e,  Imt  vie  with 
their  Catholic  neiu'lihors  in  doinu;'  honor  to  the  procession,  and 
in  caterinu"  to  the  comforts  of  the  youngsters  ! 

The  state  of  ('(hu-ation  at  this  })eriod  (182(!-I))  is  described 
by  Dr.  Fleminu",  as  follows  :  — 


1 1' 


"AVehad  three  public  schools  for  the  education  of  the  poor 
•••enerally  ;  one  of  lonji  standii\<»','  'The  St.  flohn's  Charity 
Sehool."  maintained  })artly  by  (iovernment  and  pai'lly  by 
subscript  it)ns  of  all  classes  of  the  community,  without  distinc- 
tion of  class  or  creed.  To  this  institution  the  I'rotestant 
minister  su))seiMl)ed  as  well  as  the  Catholic  priest  ;  and 
the  Catholi(!  merchant  as  well  as  tlu^  CJovcrnor.  'J'o  this  I 
myself  have  contributed  very  huiicly  in  proportion  to  my 
means."'     The  second  sehool   was  that  of  the  Irish  Society. 

"  The  third  establishment  was  enn'ted  by  one  of  the 
luunerous  liritisli  liible  Societies,  'The  North  American 
School  Society.'  IJnt  as  the  Urilish  Government  have 
withdrawn  their  support  fr(Mn  this  and  the  St.  .John's 
(?liaiity  School,  an  amalgamation  of  the  two  has  latterly 
occurred.  sULi'ji'csted  by  that  ii"<'iitleman  [»Iiidi;-e  Uoidton], 
and  therel)y   the   last  (ippurciil   ridlyinir-l'oint    ol"   liber.ality 

—  that  foeus   where   all  the    rays   of  benevolence   of   what- 
ever creed   coiild  eonverii'c    for   the   advanta<i'(^    of   th(>    \)ooy 

—  was  torn  down  by  the  most  powerful  intluential  interest 
in  the   Island." 


>  "  Tho  'Colonial  ami  ("ontiiiciitiil  Cluircli  Society, '  oriEriiiiilly  flic  '  Xowfoimdliind 
Sclidol  Sociily,'  .  .  .  coiniiiciii'L'd  ils  ojionitioiis  in  IHii  "  (Ilarvrv,  Ncnlbiuul- 
luntl). 


OF   NEWFOUNDLAND. 


231 


Shortly  at'tor  lliis  liino  (1<S32-;1)  tho  country  reooivod  the 
ffrciit  hoon  of  l\(M)rescnl;i1iv('  fiovcnimcnl,  with  the  h)ii<i- 
h)()k('{|-l()r  ])i'i\ih\i:'e  of  uiakimr  licr  own  hiws ;  and  very 
(^iirly  attention  was  niven  to  the  promotion  of  o(hication. 
At  tirst,  liberal  <j,rnnts  of  money  were  bestowed,  and  the 
sentiment  of  tho  peo})le  seemed  strongly  in  favor  of  non- 
denominational  education.  In  IX  VA  an  act  was  introdueed 
into  the  Assembly  for  the  formation  of '' two  eolleges,  one 
for  Prot(>stant  education  and  one  for  Koman  Catiiolie."'  Dr. 
Fh'ming  sent  a  petition  against  it,  on  the  following  grounds, 
namely:  1.  While  Protestants  are  seeiu'ed  in  their  rights, 
there  is  no  provision  to  secure  the  a])i)ointnu'nt  of  Jtoman 
Catholics  as  directors  for  the  Catholic  ccdiego.  2.  That 
according  to  llie  tenets  of  tlu^  Catholic  religion  the  liishoi)  or 
ordinary  is  de  Jure  and  do  farUt  Su[)(>rior  of  every  lioman 
Catholic  colleae  ;  yet  no  mention  is  made  of  such  fact,  nor  is 
ho  by  the  lu-i  supposed  to  have  any  i)ower  ox  control  over  it. 

3.  That  tho  only  causes  assigned  in  the  act  for  the  vacancy 
of  the  position  of  director  are  "death,  resignation,  or  absence 
from  the  country:"  whereas  he  declares  it  is  necessary 
that  these  directors  shotdd  be  recognized  menil)ers  of  the 
Catholic  conununion,  api)ointe(l  and  approved  by  the  said 
Bishop,  and  that  he  shonid  hav(>  the  jiower  of  sns[)eiiding 
or  dismissing  a  dii'ector  tor  such  cause  as  gross  misconduct 
or  departure  from  the  Cath()Iic  religion,  confession  ot"  the 
tenets  of  which  constituted  his  original  title  to  appointment. 

4.  That  in  tin;  said  dir(>ctors  is  vested  tho  power  of 
electing  tho  ])r()fessors  and  priiu'ii)al  of  tho  colleges,  who 
(tho  ])rincij)ar)  "shall  be  a  graduate  of  (>ither  ''  ford,  Cam- 
I)ridge,  or  'I'rinity  College',  Dublin."  This  pru  dege  also. 
Dr.  Fleming  contends,  should  be  subject  to  the  appro\al  of 
the  Ivoman  (^atholic  liishop,  and  to  tic  condition  that  such 
princi[)al  and  teachers  sliould  l)i'  Roman  ('.".t'.'olics :  and, 
indeed,  oiu'o  tho  ])rinciple  of  ilenominationalism  is  conceded 
tho  objections  of  tho  IJishop  seem  most  reasonable. 

That  Dr.  Fleming's  anxiety  to  presei-ve  from  contamina- 
tion tho  little  oius  of  his  tlock  was  not  at  all  without   sulli- 


232 


ECCLESIASTICAL  IIISTOUY 


I    ! 


H. 


I   I 


cicnt  roiison  is  .shown  from  tho  tone  of  a  set  of  rules  mid  by- 
laws which  were  drawn  up  in  pursuance  of  this  act  "for  the 
Goverinneiil  of  the  Catholic  IJoard  of  E<lucati(>n."'  Uule 
IX.  reads  as  follows:  "^Vhile  it  shall  he  the  ohject  of  this 
J'loard  to  promote  the  moral  and  reliiiious  oducatioii  of  Cath- 
olic children  of  the  district,  they  will  esteem  it  their  duty  — 
as  all  schools  shall  he  open  to  children  of  every  deiioniiiia- 
flon  —  (o  fovJiid  that  the  slujldest  Infcv/cveace  he  iixed  in'th 
the  reliuious  iwlmuple^  of  the  childri'ii."'  It  would  seem 
that  this  act  did  not  come  into  operation,  and  that  in  tho 
followinij  year,  tho  seventh  year  of  the  reiiiii  of  her  pres- 
ent ^Majesty  (1844),  an  act  was  passed  "to  jjrovide  for 
the  establishment  of  an  Academy  in  St.  John's."  This 
academy  was  ■)\(m-de))in}ilnational,,  'a\\(\\\\\'a  held  at  "Castle 
li<'nnie,''  Siuiial  Hill  Koad,  John  V.  Xuuent  heinir  priuci])al, 
and  Messrs.  Xewnian,  M.A.,  ()\.,  and  T.  Talbot,  pro- 
fessors. This  academy  lasted  till  1S.')(),  when  the  de- 
nominational principle  auain  trium[)hed,  and  an  net  was 
passed  to  amend  the  former  act.  In  this  one  of  1(S,")() 
it  was  enacted  that  "from  and  after  the  j)as>inu-  of  this 
act  the  functions  of  the  jjrescnt  IJoard  of  Diri'ctoi's  of 
the  said  Academy  shall  cease,  .  .  .  and  it  shall  bo 
lawful  .  .  .  to  nominate  three  IJoards  of  Directors 
i"or  the  said  Academy,  vi/.,  a  Ivoman  Catholic,  a  Church  of 
Euiiland,  and  a  (Jeneral  Protestant  IJoard."  Thus  w(^  see 
the  denominational  ti'udency  ever  slowly  but  s'-rtdy  advanc- 
ing. The  former  act  of  184.')  gave  but  two  divisions,  now 
we  have  three.  As  tho  salaries  of  th(>  jirofessois  were 
based  on  poi)ulation,  the  act  gives  ns  a  criterion  from  which 
to  iudire  of  the  strenath  of  tho  various  denominations.  Thus, 
in  Section  4  wo  read:  "There  shall  be  grante(l 
£2.")()  towards  defraying  the  salary  of  the  Roman  (^atholic 
master,  i'l'OO  .  .  .  the  Church  of  Knglimd  master," 
and  £!.")()  for  "tho  salaries  of  one  or  moi'e  masters  of  other 
Proti'staut  denominations,"  liy  Section  ;')  tho  Masters  were 
"at  their  own  expense  to  provide  rooms,"  etc.  ^Ir.  Nugent 
still  remained  master  of  the  Catholic  acadoni}',  which  was 


■— Mtv^'^^iat 


OF  NEWFOUNDLAND. 


233 


tluMifcfortli  lu'ld  at  ^loiik.slown  Road,  till  {ho  oixMiiiii;  of  St. 
IJoiiavciituiv's  College,  ill  185'),  and  his  uppointuicnt  to  the 
olli«'i'  of  Iliifh  Slicrilf. 

ill  tlu!  year  1S^)S  the  current  of  denoniinatioiialism  iiad 
made  anothi-r  rush  onward,  and  we  lind  the  Protestant  hranch 
dividini;  and  tlirowin*;  out  another  stream,  namely,  the 
"Weslcyan  Methodist."  l>y  this  time  tliat  important  and 
rai)idly  inereasin<jf  denomination  had  so  far  advaneed  as  to 
demand  a  .s(![)arate  academy,  which  was  aceordinuly  granted 
by  an  act  passed  on  May  10,  l(S").s,  hy  wiiicii  it  is  enacted 
that  ''there  shall  be  established  in  St.  fb)lnrs  a  AVesleyan 
acach'uiy."'  Wy  this  act  the  salaries  ranize  as  follows: 
lioman  Catholic,  i'OOO ;  Church  of  ICn^land,  £400;  the 
AVesleyan  Academy,  £200;  and  tlu^  General  Protestant 
Academy,  £ir)0.  I'he  li_<j:ures  of  the  latest  census  of  1884 
would  seem  to  indicate  that  we  are  not  likely  to  have  any 
other  subdivision,  at  least  for  some  years. 

The  I\t.  Kcv.  Dr.  jNIuIIocU,  in  a  lecture  on  Education, 
phices  in  stronij:  and  clo(|uent  words  the  unchaniring  sen- 
timent of  the  Catholic  Church  on  the  all-imi)()rtant  (juestion 
of  denominational  education:  ''The  GovernmiMit  has  ma(ks 
on  the  whole,  considcrinu'  the  resources  of  the  country,  a 
fair  provision  for  cducatu)n  ;  and  \\v.  enjoy,  Ix^sidcs.  the  great 
h\('>i^\\v^,j)('fJei:treIiijlousfn'('(h)i)i.  As  education  consists  not 
in  k-arninj^f  to  read  and  write,  or  in  the  accpn'sition  of  science 
or  languages,  but  com[)rises  the  whole  training  —  moi'al.sot'ial, 
and  religious  —  of  the  child,  and  nu)ulds  his  character  for  life, 
it  nuist  be  eviik'ut  that  the  only  way  to  prevent  bickering  and 
disunion  in  the  connmmity,  and  to  give  justice  to  all,  is  the 
mode  a(k)i)ted  l)y  (i()V(>rnment  of  dividing  the  education  grant, 
pro  riitd,  between  all  denominations.  Hence  one  great  source 
of  disunion,  so  distracting  in  other  countries,  does  not  exi^t 
here.  All  denominations  being  e(|uallv  favored,  there  is  no 
jeak)usy,  no  cause  of  comi)laint.  \\\  all  countries  of  mixed 
populatit)ns  where  tlu>  experiment  had  been  tried  of  either 
forcing  on  the  minority  the  religious  education  of  the  majority, 
or  of  excluding  any  detinite  religious  teaching,  and  endeavor- 


i  \  \j 


234 


ECCLESIASTICAL   HISTORY 


ill*;  to  sul)stitii(o  for  it  a  system  of  ethics,  iiiidcr  tho  iianio  of 
'C'oimiion  CUristiMiiily,'  it  has  rcsullrd  in  alisojiitr  t'aihiro. 
licli^ioiis  (lissoiisions,  instead  of  heiii'j;  eliiniiiated,  have  be- 
come ehronieand  embittered  ;  and  inli(U'Mty  and  indillerentism, 
tiie  j^rcat  eui'sea  of  modern  society,  havt^  not  only  under- 
mined all  iiovernments,  monarchical  or  democratic,  but  have 
corrupted  and  endanirei'e(l  the  fundamental  principles  of  soci- 
ety itself  by  nuliifyinif  parental  authority,  the  indissolubility 
of  marriajie,  the  rights  of  property,  tlu^  dignity  of  man,  and 
tho  honor  of  woman,  —  frightful  evils,  which  we  only  know, 
thank  (Jod  !  by  hearing.  Notwithstanding  the  imperfect  state 
of  our  education,  naturally  to  bo  exix'cted  in  a  new  and 
])oor  country,  with  a  scatleivd  jjopulation  and  imperfect 
counnunications,  still  our  criminals  are  fewer  in  number  in 
proportion  to  our  population,  and  the  crimes  of  a  lighter 
character,  than  in  many  parts  of  either  Europe  oi-  America, 
as  criminal  statistit's  will  prove.'  80  far  the  moral  training 
of  th(!  people  of  all  denominations  has  not  been  a  failure,  and 
the  basis  of  a  solid  Christian  education  has  been  laid.  .  .  . 
It  is  for  the  advantage  of  Catholics  that  the  I'rotestant  com- 
nnmity  should  be  well  educated,  as  it  is  for  the  Protestants 
that  the  Catholics  should  be  eipially  so.  Tiie  interests  of  the 
two  great  sections  of  tlie  comnuuiity  arc*  identical,  and  th(! 
intelligence  and  morality  of  each  is  a  guaranty  of  peace  and 
unity  to  the  other.  Indeed,  mixed  up  as  they  are,  it  is  im- 
possible that  any  impi'ovemeut  in  the  ediu-ation  or  circum- 
stances of  one  ])ai'ty  should  not  excite  an  honorable  rivalry 
in  the  other  eiiually  advantageous  to  both." 

The  importance  of  this  lengthy  exti'act  nuist  be  my  apolog}'^ 
for  its  insertion  here  in  a  rather  digressive  position.  To  r(!turn 
to  the  subject  of  the  Irish  Society's  schools.     It  appears  from 


'  Tlio  convictions  for  wliiit  would  be  li'!insportal)!c  crimes  at  Home,  ov  punished  hy 
Ion;;  iniprisomnent,  show  the  I'ollowing  comparison  between  Newroundhind  and  tlie 
neigliljoi'in^'  colonies :  — 

Xcwibiindliind.  —  I'opidalion  in  ISt.'),    nn.riOfi  ;  conviclions,    l. 
Xew  UniM-wick.  "  INK),  IT)  i.Ki'J ;  "  f>2. 

V.  K.  Island.  "  IfSll,    17,(K1;  "  3«. 


OF  NEWFOUNDLAND. 


235 


the  tiiTio  that  Dr.  Floniinjr  <xot  control  of  tlicm  thoy  bcoaine 
exclusively  Ciilliolic  in  Uicir  tone  and  luanMiicmcnt.  In  the 
year  1SI7  Dr.  Fleniin_i>'  procured  a  hrancli  of  the  Brolhors  of 
the  Order  of  St.  Francis  from  (Jalway.  Tiiey  had  cliar<:(^  of 
iho  schools  for  sonio  years,  with  great  success.  They  wovo 
familiarly  known  as  "  the  Monks."  Owing  to  a  variety  of 
(Husos  they  were  ol)liired,  in  1853,  to  give  up  the  schools, 
which  again  reverted  to  secular  ti^achers,  with  more  or  less 
success,  until  the  erection  of  the  grand  new  St.  Patrick's 
Hall,  and  the  introduction  of  the  Cinistian  Brothers  in  the 
year  187().  This  was  the  dawn  of  a  new  and  glorious  era  in 
the  history  of  education  in  Newfoundland  ;  but  it  shall  be 
taken  uj)  in  its  [)roper  [)lace  by  and  by. 


T 
I  111        1 1 


w 


r  I 


230 


ECCLKSIASTU'AL    IIISTUKY 


CIIAPTKll  XVIII. 

RT.  IIEV.  I)K.  I.AMIUvJtT,  HKC'OND  IlISIIOP.  -  [ISOfi-lSlT.] 

1)1'.  T.uiiilxTt  —  His  \'i-'itiilii)ii  of  C()iu'i'|ili()ii  Hay  iiiiil  Fcrryliind  —  IIo  Knlar^ics  llic 
"Ol.l  Cliiiiiul"—  Ddiciitu  State  of  llcaltli  —  llu  Kosiyns  in  Favor  of  J)r.  Scailaii. 

nA\'I\(J  thus  tr.'ic.'d  the  history  of  cdiiciitioii  ii[)  to  mod- 
ern times,  we  siiiiU  now  revert  to  the  iiiirnitive  ofevtMits 
ill  (hie  oi'cU'r  IVom  tht^  year  \S{)Ct. 

AVe  hiive  seen  thiit  Dr.  O'Donel,  worn  out.  more  by  lh(^ 
fiitijz'iie  and  Ial)or  ot"  the  Mission,  tlian  hy  ohl  age,  had  ii|)i)lied 
for  a  eoadjiitor.  A  meniher  of  the  same  OnU'r,  and  one 
wlioin  h(^  had  l<nown  in  Ireland,  ^vas  chosen,  in  the  })erson  of 
Fiither  PiitricU  Lambert.  This  Prelate  was  l)orn  in  ^Ve^•f()rd. 
On  his  return  from  Rome,  where,  in  the  College  of  St. 
Isi(h)re's,  ho  e()m))leted  his  studies,  and  was  ordtiined  i)riost, 
he  was  appointed  a  ineml)er  of  tlie  Conuniuiity  of  Wexford, 
and  was  j)rineipally  engaged  as  professor  of  a  seminary 
estiiblislied  in  the  eonvent.  On  the  death  of  the  I'rovineial, 
Father  Stewart,  in  180."),  lie  was  ap])ointe(l  X'iear  Provincial 
of  the  Irish  Franciscans,  ^\'hile  thus  engaged  in  his  collegi- 
ate duties  ho  learned  that  he  wsis  ai)[)ointed  Victir  Apostolic 
of  Xewfoiuidiand,  by  J^ius  Vll.,  smd  successor  to  Dr. 
O'Donel,  whose  ri^signation  had  been  ticcepted  by  tiie  Holy 
Sec.  lie  was  ticcordingly  consecrated  in  th(^  Frtmciscan 
chapel  of  Wexford  in  A})ril,  l!SO(),  with  the  title  of  IJishop 
of  Chitrti  ill  partibi(s,^  and  soon  after  U^ft  his  home  for  the 
scene  of  his  future  labors.  Never  of  ti  robust  constitution, 
and  being  rather  too  old  for  a  hiborious  ^lission  like  that  of 
Newfoundland,  wc;  do  not  lind  that  he  mtide  any  extensive 
visitation. 


I*! 


'  Di'.  T>aiiil)('i't  lliii-i  iiu'iitioiis  the  title  of  his  Sec  in  ii  letter  to  Dr.  Troy,  June  9, 
1807:  "The  name  ot  the  ilioeesc  in  purtihits  is  ealled  in  my  Bull  /■.'(•c'eitid  Chi/trensis, 
situated  iu  the  Island  of  Cj'prus,  and  sutVrajjan  to  the  Arehdioceac  of  Salamiua." 


j^te-jjpi.'" 


OF   NEWFOUNDLAND. 


237 


:, 


lie  miulc,  however,  a  visitation  of  Harbor  Oraco  (Conecp- 
lion  Hav)  and  Kci'i-ylaiid,  in  tin-  siiniiiun'  of  1SU7.  He  writes 
to  the  Arehhishop  of  Dublin  (Dr.  Troy)  as  follows:  "At  the 
tinu?  yoiu'  (Jnice'ri  letter  arrived  here  1  was  in  Conception 
liay,  visiting  Fiither  Ewer's  dislriet,  which  1  had  the  happi- 
"icss  of  finding  in  as  good  onU'r  as  coidd  possibly  be  ex[)eeted 
in  so  Iiiige  a  range  of  eoa.sl.  I  cruised  about  tw(Mity-one 
Iciigues  of  the  coast  of  it  and  conlii'nied  almost  four  hundrivl 
children."  He  also  speaks  in  this  letti'r  of  having  just  re- 
ceived th(!  Holy  Oils  from  Ireland,  and  says  :  "As  your  Grace 
is  of  opinion  that  I  need  not  scruple  to  consecrate  them 
with  one  priest,  when  no  other  can  \h'  had,  1  shall  tlo  so  in 
future."  ' 

III  the  sauu'  letter  he  mentions  another  circumstance  of 
some  importance,  as  showing  the  anti(piity  of  the  diocese 
of  St.  flohn's,  and  its  prestigi;  above  those  of  the  lu-ighboring 
colonies.  He  rei'cived  a  U'tter  from  Dr.  IMessis,  liishop  of 
Quel)ec,  ill  which  "he  conn)lains  nuu-li  of  the  labor  of  his 
diocese,  which  he  says  it  would  take  him  six  entire  years  to 
visit.  He  has  lately  consecrated  a  coadjutor,  who  resides  at 
INIonti-eal,  and  has  petitioned  Konu^  lately  for  another,  who 
he  intends  should  resides  on  the  coast  of  tlu;  (lulf  of  St. 
Lawrence.  He  presses  me  very  seriously  to  accept  another 
part  of  it,  that  is,  Xt^w  Ib'unswick  and  Xova  Scotia.  But  I 
assure  your  Grace  I  think  I  have  too  much  sailing  around 
tlu^  coasts  of  Xewfoundland  without  going  across  to  the  con- 
tinent. However,  ])et\)r(!  I  giv(^  a  deiiiiite  answ;er,  I  v.oulil 
be  glad  to  have  your  (Jrace's  oi)iiiion  on  the  business." 

Writing  to  Dr.  Troy  again,  in  1-SlO,  he  says:  — 

"If  I  can  regulate  and  arrange  matters  hvw.  to  my 
satisfaction,  I  intend  to  lake  a  trip  across  the  Atlantic  next 


I 


'  Acroidiiii,'  to  lUu  inv-icriptioiis  of  ciiiion  law,  in  onlcM- to  cany  out,  with  all  iluc 
solemnity,  tin;  (•erciiuiiiiainrtlio  con-^ccnilion  ol'llu' Oils,  it  is  nccossary  to  liiivf  twolvo 
prii'sls,  twelve  deacons,  ami  sevi'U  subileaeons.  This  rile,  however,  is  not  essential  to 
the  Vi'.liility  of  tho  act,  unil  is  ilispensed  with  in  missionary  eonnlries,  ISishojJs  Ijeinj:^ 
allowed  to  conseerate  the  Oils  with  whalever  nnml)cr  of  priests  they  can  eonvenionlly 
hrin^  tojrcther,  hnt  there  must  he,  at  least,  five, — "cum  saccnlotibus  quos  potueriiit 
habere  duinmodo  ud  minus  sint  qiii/Kjue." 


^i' 


2^8 


ECCLESIASTICAL  IIISTO.iY 


summor  lo  try  if  I  can  nrovail  on  some  of  those  voiiiiij 
missionaries  that  your  (irace  Iclls  me  are  now  on  their  way 
home,  to  eonie  out  with  me  here  to  this  land  of  milk  (ind 
hnnc'!/  to  enjoy  tlie  sweets  of  it.  .  .  .  My  heiiUh  is  hut 
middling.  .  .  .  Last  September  I  ir()t  a  fall  oil"  a  tree 
that  lay  across  the  path  as  I  was  returniuLT  from  Ferryland, 
by  which  I  broke  some  of  my  ril)s.  They  are  now,  1  hope, 
healed,  at  least  are  not  very  troublesome  to  me. 

"Sir  John  T.  Duckworth,  our  fJovernor,  showed  me  much 
civilty  and  i)oliteuess  durinu'  his  stay  here.  I  dined  three  or 
four  times  with  him,  and  he  did  me  the  honor  of  dining  ouco 
at  my  table,  and  seemed  ha[)|)V  and  pleased. 

"I  am  happy  to  lind  that  Dr.  Plessis  has  at  lenuth  received 
your  Grace's  letters.  He  is  a  most  worthy  and  zealous  Prel- 
ate, and  Avarndy  attached  to  the  Irish  prelacy.  He  prays  me 
to  forvvard  your  (Irace  this  packet.  In  inutation  of  him  I 
have  issued  nearly  similar  orders  with  re^rard  to  his  Holiness. 

"  PATKICK  LA.MIJEUT. ' 


Dr.  Land)i'rt  was  fift^'-five  years  of  aue  at  the  tinu*  of  his 
consecrati  n.  He  was  acconii)anied  on  coiniuii'  u»  New- 
foundland b\-  two  priests,  viz.,  the  Kev.  A.  Cleary  (uncle 
of  the  late  Dean  Cleary,  of  Whittles  I»ay)  and  1{(!V. 
Denis  Kelly,  and  also  Mr.  .Taiiuvs  Sinnott.  Father  Cleary 
remained  four  years  as  cuiate  in  St.  John's  ;  thence  he  went 
to  Placentia,  wlicre  he  died  in  1S2I».  K.-v.  1).  Kelly  did  not 
remain  on  tlii'  mission,  hut  I'cturned  to  Ireland,  where  ho 
died,  at  IJarony  Fort,  in  \Xi\.  He  was  unlitted  for  the 
rouii'h  work  of  tlm  ]\Ii>sion.  "  He  was,"  the  late  Dean 
Ch'arv  u-;ed  iocoselv  tosav,  ''loo  hohi.  He  was  alwaws  i)rav- 
ing.  He  woidd  not  hear  confessions  nor  (((he  an;/  iiioiici/.'''' 
This  latter  failing  was  undoid)tt'(lly  a  serious  one,  and(iuite  a 
dis(jualilier. 

Mr.  Simiofl  was  s(Mit  to  Quebec  to  study  theology.  He 
AVas  ordained  in  ISJO,  iin<l  served  on  the  Mission  in  \i'W- 
foundland  for  twi'uty-one  years,  when  he  retired  to  Ireland, 
antl  died  only  a   few  years  since.     It  would  appear,  how- 


OF  NEWFOUNDLAND. 


239 


ever,  from  his  Exeat,  tliiit  lie  was  only  sovcntocn  years 
on  the  jMission  as  priest,  hut  twenty-one  years  from  home  ; 
and  also  that  ho  had  at  lirst  only  {)ermission  to  retire  for  a 
time,  -which  arraniicment  Avas  afterwards  ehaiiiied.  The 
Exvat  is  in  Dr.  Seallan's  handwriting,  and  is  dated  18th  of 
October,  1827.     In  it  Ave  read  :  — 

"(^uoniam  ])ost  absentiam  :^1  annorum  a  i)atria  tua  ;  amicos 
et   natale    sohiiii    r('\  isitare    vehementer    desidcras 
tenore  prescnlium  banc  veniam  impertinmr.     Precijjientes  nt 
quam   prinunn   proxima   a\skile,  ad   curaia   anhaaruh),  tlbl 
comm h'^mriim  redea,s." 


Under  Dr.  Lambert's  reii-n  an  episcopal  residence,  a 
comfortable  wooden  l)uildinii-  ("The  Old  Pala('(>"V  was 
erected,  and  the  "  Old  ('ha[)el '"  eiilar<>-ed  by  the  addition  of  the 
transepts,  to  meet  the  growing  wants  of  the  congregation. 
In  1811  he  visited  Ireland,  and  iiuhiced  the  Ivev.  Thomas 
Scalian,  a  member  of  the  same  Order  and  convent  as  himself, 
and  associated  with  him  in  the  Wexford  st'ininary,  to  come 
to  Newfoundland  and  assist  him  in  t!;;-  mission.  Father  Scal- 
lan,  after  serving  the  vicariate  for  a  few  years,  returned 
to  Ireland,  and  was  some  lime  afterwards  appointed  Dr. 
LamlxM't's  successor.  Dr.  Lambert  continued  till  1817, 
though  struggling  with  ill-health,  to  discharge  the  duties 
of  the  e})iscoi)ate.  lie  then  resigned,  and  returni'd  to  his 
native  country.  He  resided  in  AN'exIbrd  for  a  few  years, 
but  was  subjtH't  to  tVe(|ueiil  c[)ile|)tic  attacks,  which  soon 
bronglit  him  to  the  grave.  He  was  buried  in  the  l"'raiu'iseau 
convent  of  A\ fxlbi'd.  He  is  said,  by  those  who  renieiiiber 
him,  to  have  becm  a  man  of  nuich  retincment  of  manner,  but 
not  adapted  to  the  situation  of  \'iear  A}io>lolic  in  a  voung 
country  like  Xcwlbundland.  He  was  better  ([ualiliecl  to  pre- 
side over  a  college  than  <)\cr  a  new  ^Mission  ;  but  during  the 
few  years  he  spent  in  this  country  he  conciliated  the  respect  of 
all  I'lasses.  A  few  chapels  wen;  built  during  his  eijiscopacy, 
and  he  left  seven  priests  in  the  Mission  on  his  de[)arture. 


r« 


240 


ECCLESIASTICAL  HISTORY 


CHAPTER   XIX. 


T?T.   REV.   DR.   SCALLAX,  TIIIKD  TUSTIOr.- [1817-1830.] 

Rt  Rev.  Tliomas  Scallan,  Third  lii^liop  —  Ilis  Coiispcratinii  in  Woxlord  —  Airivos  in 
Xi'wfdiinclbiiiil,  ISK)  —  I'rii'sts  in  tlic  Island  at  tlial  Time  —  His  Rcpdit  of  tlie  Mis- 
sion to  L'ropa;,MniIa  —  (MiaractiT  of  Di-.  Scallan  —  ICxrcss  of  I.il)('i'alily — Dr. 
Rourl^i'  AppoinV  d  First  Risliop  of  Xovii  Scotia  —  Dccliiiiii;,'  llcaltli  of  Dr.  Sralliiii 
—  .Vccounts  for  liis  W<,'id<ncss  of  Rnrposo  —  Seeks  a  Coadjutor  —  Fatlu'r  Micliad 
Aniliony  Firming  is  Appointed  and  < 'onsoeiated  in  the  "  (Ihl  (^liapel,"  1829  — 
Death  and  Hnrial  of  Dr.  .Scallan  —  His  Monument  in  the  Cathedral  —  Review  of  his 
Episcopate. 


DR.  LA^IBERT,  as  wo  liave  soon,  vosiirnod  in  ftivor  of 
Fiitlior  Thonitis  SctiUiin,  tilso  a  Francisctm.  Tlio  Abbe 
Rrassciir  do  P>()iirb()urof,  in  liis  ''  History  of  Cansulti,"  insorts 
horo  llio  nanio  of  Rislio[)  (iillis  its  stiorossor  of  Dr.  Ltunlxu't. 
But  this  is  a  niistalco,  tis  no  such  person  was  ever  on  this 
^Ilssion.  It  is  intended,  doitI)th'ss,  t'or  liishop  fJillis,  of 
Scotland,  who,  I  think,  was  sonietinio  in  some  part  of 
Nova  Scotia. 

Father  Tliomas  Sealltin,  O.S.F.,  wtis  born  in  Wexford. 
He  went  tlnouiih  his  studies,  and  received  the  Franciscan 
habit  at  St.  Isidore's  convent  in  Rome.  He  p.-issed  his 
cnrricuhiin  with  credit.  At  tlie  conc'iision  of  his  conei!:iiite 
course  lie  wjis  api)ointed  professor  of  jtliilosjihy,  and,  after 
a  residence  of  oiiiliteen  years  in  Ittdy,  lie  returned  to  Ireland 
in  17114,  and  was  ajipointed  a  moniber  of  the  convent  of 
AVe.xford.  He  wtis  now  occupied,  not  only  in  the  missionary 
duties  of  an  Irish  Franciscan,  but  also  as  teacher  in  a  semi- 
ntiry  esttiblislied  in  the  convent.  In  1812,  as  we  have  sttited. 
he  ciune  to  Newfoundland  with  Dr.  liiimbert,  and  remained 
a  few  years  hdtoiing  in  the  ]Mission,  and  actjuirinij:  tliat  ox- 
per'''nce  which  he  wtis  aftorwiirds  to  put  into  prtictice  as 
Bisiiop.  Dr.  Mullock  states  that  he  j-ctircd  to  Ireland  previ- 
ous to  Dr.  Lambert's  departure,  and  resumed  his  conventual 


'• 


OF  NEWFOUNDLAND. 


241 


It  I 


duties ;  hut  Dean  Cleaiy  states  that  Dr.  Lambert  and 
he  Mt  together  in  1815.  "He  was,"  says  the  Dean,  "a 
shrewd  man  of  the  AVovUl,  aeutc  and  eautious."  He  after- 
wards, howiner,  as  we  shall  see,  sutlered  from  a  mahuly  of 
the  hrain,  on  aeeount  of  which  lie  pei'petrated  some  im- 
prudent acts. 

lU'  was  ai)pointed  l)y  a  brief  of  Pius  VH.,  dated  4t]i  of 
April.  1  SI  '),  Uishop  of  Drauo  iu  parflhnx,  and  by  another,  dated 
January  20,  18l(),  was  nominated  coadjutor  to  Dr.  Lambert. 
He  was  consecrated  on  the  1st  of  May,  181(!,  in  (he  paro- 
chial church  of  AVexford,  by  the  Afost  Hev.  Dr.  Troy,  xVrch- 
bishop  of  Dublin,  assisted  by  tlie  ]Jt.  Ivev.  Dr.  Patrick 
Ryan,  liisjiop  of  Ferns,  and  Kt.  liev.  Ivieran  Maruni, 
Pjishoj)  of  Ossory;  Dr.  Lambert,  l)isho[)  of  ("hytra.  Vicar 
Apostolic  of  Xewfoundland,  and  Dr.  Daniel  Murray,  Ep. 
Hierai)olcnsis,  Avero  also  present.  Imnuxliately  after  his 
consecration  he  wrote  (from  Dublin,  May  li))  a  Latin  let- 
ter to  tlu!  Cardinal  Prefect  of  Proi)airan(la,  sayinir,  tliat  as 
Dr.  IiMnil)ert  was  detained  in  Ireland,  "  hijiniiitafe  quce  iUiiiii 
ad  ojjida  jiaslortdid  iiilHibilcm  reddit"  \w  would  set  out  for 
Newfoundland  as  soon  as  possible.^  He  arrived  in  the  sum- 
mer of  that  year,  l-Slfi.  "Upon  the  accession  of  Dr.  Scal- 
lan,  my  [)redec(>ssor,''  says  Dr.  Flemiu'r  ("  Letters  to  Dr. 
Spratt,"  J).  4)  "to  the  See,  thouiih  the  munber  of  churches 
had  been  increased,  the  munber  of  priests  was  only 
seven."  "In  two  years  after  his  arrival  in  the  Island  (Dr. 
"MiUlock,  MS.,  p.  Od)  111'  had  ten  [)riests  under  his  jurisdic- 
tion."' 

This  History  would  be  imperfect  should  it  allow  the  names 
of  these  old  priests,  the  apostli's  of  our  Church,  to  remain  in 
oblivion.  The  followinu"  meau're  item^  concerniui:' them  have 
been  lileaned  from  tradition,  principally  from  the  late  vener- 
abl(>  Dean  Cleary,  who  for  over  fifty  years  bore  himself  (h(> 
heat  and  the  burden,  and  was  a  soi't  of  livinii:  c<)m[)endium  of 

'lie  colli  iiiucs  in  follows:  "  Oniii  luiincris  incis  inipijsitiiin  ciim  limoic  siiliiptis, 
jacto  sillier  J)omiiiiiiii  ciiraiii  iiiciim  sponuis  quod  lUo  Duns  (jiii  nie  ml  liuiie  stiituiu 
vocavit  1110  ciiutrict,  ct  ilcbito  officio  saiictc  et  ciun  IVuctii  I'liimi  iiiihi  iliilik." 


sill 

I 


" 


242 


FXCLKSIASTICAL  IIISTOHY 


our  Cliurcli  liistoiy.     The  seven  priests  in  the   Island  on  llie 
arrival  of  Dr.  Seailan  were  :  — 


llti 


1.  Vv.  Yovv  or  Ewer,  of  whom  fnll  mention  has  been 
madi'  before.  He  came  in  17Ni)  to  Ferryland,  wheie  ]n\  re- 
mained till  l(S()(i,  when  he  was  removed  to  Harbor  (Jraee. 
There  he  remained  till  his  death,  in  is;;;').  He  left  some 
money,  about  $2.;)t)(),  wiru-li  was  placed  in  the  funds  of  the 
Irish  ("olleii'e,  Konie,  for  the  jturjjose  of  foundinu'  a  bourse 
for  a  student  for  the  ^Mission  of  Newfoundland. 

2.  Fr.  V.  A.  Cleary,  who  eanie  in  LSOl),  with  Dr.  Lam- 
bert, as  before  mentioned. 

'^.     Fr,  Sinnott,  also  mentioned  above. 

4.  Fr.  Brown  was  a  native  of  Koss,  and  a  member  of  the 
Order  of  St.  Auii'ustin.  He  si)ent  twentv-eiuht  years  on  the 
Mission,  prinei])ally  in  Ferryland.  He  eame  in  1.S12,  and  rc- 
tireil  to  Ireland  in  ISK).  A  Fr.  Larrissy,  of  (  allan,  and  a 
meml)er  of  the  same  Order,  eame  out  with  him  ;  but  Ik!  re- 
mained oidy  two  years,  and  returned  to  Ireland  in  1814,  be- 
fore Dr.  Sealhui's  ap])ointment. 

").  Fr.  A\'illiam  Hearn  eame  out  Ix'Ibre  his  oi'dination,  in 
1.S14,  and,  like  Fr.  Sinnott,  was  sent  to  (,)u(>!)cc  to  tinish  his 
studies.  He  was  stationed  at  IMaeentia,  and  had  eharL'"e,  as 
we  have  seen,  of  all  Fortinie  l>ay  and  the  ^^'e>t.  It  is 
relatiMJ  that  on  one  oeeasion  he  pushed  his  missionary  visita- 
tion as  far  w(>st  as  St.  (leorii'e's  IJay,  where  he  was  inhospi- 
tably received  i)y  tlu*  Fnulish  settlers.  Fr.  Ileai-n  died  in 
I'laeentia  in  1829.  Al)out  the  same  year  of"  his  arrival 
(ISII)  thei'e  eame  out  :i  priest  named  Cronan  :  but  he 
oidy  remained  a  year  or  so,  and  K'l"t  liefoi'e  Dr.  Seallan's 
arrival. 

(!.  Fr.  F'itzirerald.  a  Franeisean,  was  an  elderly  man. 
He  eanu!  out  the  year  of  Dr.  Seallan's  appointment,  1^1(1. 
He  left  for  Fi'inee  Edward  Island  or  Nova  Seotia  about 
1822.  About  the  year  1812  thert>  eame  also  a  Fr.  Eitz- 
simmonds.  He  was  stationed  on  the  Southeiai  Shore.  He 
was  a  little  eeeentrie  in  his  ijietv.      He  raised  u  lla^'stalf  with 


OF   NEWI'OUXDLAND. 


243 


ii 


a  cross  upon  it  above  u  larcc  rock  at  Renews,  where  he  used 
to  cele])rate  ]Mass.  The  rock  is  still  to  be  seen.  lie  only 
remained  lin'cc  years. 

7.  There  was  also  a  Fr.  Power,  who  came  in  I.SIO ;  ])ut  he 
was  snsi)cndcd  from  duty,  and  lived  privately  at  Twenty- 
!Mile  Pond,  where  he  died  in  1<S1<S. 

These,  then,  were  the  seven  holy  niissioners  who  had  the 
care  of  the  seven  churches  on  the  arrival  of  Dr.  Scallan. 

The  year  of  his  arrival  was  remarkable  for  a  great 
event  in  our  Church  history, — the  lirst  ordination  of  a 
priest  in  the  Island.  This  was  Fr.  Nichol.^s  Devereux,  a 
young  man  whom  the  IVishoj)  had  ]»rougiit  out  with  him.  He 
■was  stationed  at  the  northward,  and  died  at  King's  (\)V(Mn 
184').  He  was  also  at  Iiurin  and  at  Harbor  Grace.  Dr. 
Scallan,  in  his  report  to  Pro[)aganda,  1822,  says  he  was  a 
"good,  moral,  and  studious  young  man." 

In   1S17  arrived  Fr.  AVilliam  AVhitty.     He  died  in   1S22, 
and    is    buried    in    the    "Old   Church-yard"   at   8t.   John's, 
near  wlu>re  stood  the  Scotch  Free  Kirk.     He  was  uncle  ot 
the  vemn-able  Fr.  ^\'hilty,   S.J.,  master  of   the    Jesuit  No- 
viciate, Alanresa,  Tjondon. 

In  ISlS  came  Fr.  Denis  Mackin,  afterwards  Dean.  He 
was  placed  in  Harbor  Grace,  and  remained  there  till  1832, 
when  he  was  appointed  to  I>rigus,  which  at  lliat  time  was 
separated  from  Harbor  Grace  and  erected  into  a  separsile 
eharffe.  A  man  of  great  taste,  he  soon  had  a  very  beautiful 
establishment.  He  tailed  his  farm  by  the  sweet,  melodious 
name  of  '"  r><ilJ:piinii<>iia"  in  menuu-y  of  tlu;  i)lace  of  his 
l)irth.  And  the  hospitality  with  which  he  welcomed  all 
visitors  has  Ix'come  a  provei'b  long  to  be  remembered  by 
those  who  enjoyed  it.     He  died  in  March,  18,")7. 

In  the  vear  1822  Dr.  Scallan  addressed  a  report  in  Latin 
to  the  Cardinal  Prefect,  in  which  he  descril)es  the  state  of 
the  iNIission  and  the  character  of  the  dill'eri'nt  in-iests.  Of 
Fr.  Yore  he  says  he  was  "  Doctrs  ct  ^'enerabilis  senex  (pii 
optima  valetudine  functus  et  jam  triginta  (juatuor  annos  in 


244 


ECCLESIASTICAL  IIIST0I5Y 


'■>(  ; 
III 


hiic  Missionc  laborlosa,  ct  iv^iono  iiicleinonli  consumpsit. 
]psi  coadjiitoros  sunt.  Xicholjius  Doveiviix  ot  Dioiiisius 
INIiK'kiii,  j)r('sl)yt(M'('.s  Siocularcs  jiiulx)  jji'ohi  iii<)i'al('s<}uo, 
s(>(l  prior  iiKijiis  sliuliosiis."  Of  Fr.  Ilcarii  ho  says  ho  was 
"  iiulcratiiiahilis  ac  zolo  oxcoIUmis  Missionarius."  Jii  Kini!;'s 
Cove,  "  lii'V.  Jacobus  Siunott  sivcularis  (luoijuo  diiiiuis,  ot 
utilis  sacordos."  In  Hay  Bulls,  "  IJov.  Tiiuollicus  IJrownc, 
Auiiiistinianus  bona'  indolis,  prodicator  Optinuis,  sod  nui)or 
indolons,  ac  in  rotaniiliari  nialo  a'conoinus.  ita  ut  a'ro  aliono 
uravat us  sit  ;  Milii  sunt  duo  assist (>ntos  in  liac  oivitate  uiuis 
Ciuliohnus  AVhilty,  Siocularis,  probi  nioralus,  ct  utilis  Auxili- 
ator.  Alter  Alexander  Filziicrald,  Doiniuicanus  a'tatc;  pro- 
vectus  zclo  I'crvcns,  ot  in  p/redicando  indetcssus,  si'd  indiiiot 
dodrina  ct  jtrudeiitia,  ipsius  roiXiitu  licentiani  .  .  .  trans- 
nii<:'randi  in  insulani  S.  .loannis  [now  Prince  Kdward]  prox- 
inia  a'tat(^  .  .  .  et  (vxpecto  (pmd  ille  lactus  t'uorit  Fran- 
ciscanus."  lie  tlicMi  describes  at  lenuth  tho  ease  of  Fat  her 
Power,  and  uives  his  r(>asons  for  suspcMidinu*  him.  lie  next 
gives  a  dcsci'iplion  of  his  dioceso.  The  climate  he  describes 
as  follows  :  "  Aeris  temi)eries  est  valdo  vai'iabilis  scilicet,  a 
nonagesimo  quinto  gradu  'riiernionictrl  Farhonheili  us(juo  ad 
vigcsimum  intra  y-erum  ejusdem."'  The  interior  of  the  coun- 
ti'y  he  thus  describes:  "Pars  interior,  (pue  ut  [)luriinum 
montil)Us.  lacu^us  et  pahidil)us  ooiistat,  est  omuino  deserta 
et  inhal)itata.  Si  excii)iantur  perpauci  indigena',  (pii  tain  in- 
domiti  et  feroces  sunt  ut  nullo  modo  ai)propin(juari  ])()ssint." 
This  description  scarcely  does  justice  to  tho  chai.icter  of  our 
poor  I'cothit's.  It  was  fear  of  the  nuu'derous  Avhite  man,  not 
savagery,  Avhich  made  tho  ])oor  Indians  tiee  llu>  allurements 
of  ci\ilization.  lie  mentions  Anticosti  as  ]»art  of  his  dio- 
cese, but  it  was  uninhal)ited,  except  by  two  families  stationed 
thei'e  by  (loxcrnment  to  assist  tho  sirn)wrecked.  lie  con- 
cludes by  asking  for  a  renewal  of  his  faculties  for  dispensa- 
tions in  marriages.  lie  speaks  of  tho  schools  of  the  "liiblc 
Society"  as  being  condemned  by  the  Propaganda,  but  adds 
'' thei'e  ar<^  none  in  this  Island."  As  we  have  soon,  however, 
they  were  established  the  following  year,  1823. 


OF   KKWFOUXDLAND. 


24:) 


VM 


.1 


Dr.  ScMlIiin,  by  the  suiivity  of  his  mannors,  oiuloarod  liini- 
st'U'  not  only  to  Ciitliolics,  but  also  to  Protestants,  and  with 
thoni  and  with  the  nioivantilo  classes  and  Government  people 
he  was  an  espeeial  favorite.  lie  was  very  hospitable,  and 
we  need  not  wonder  that  a  a-overnor  (Prescott),  diirinii  the 
episcopacy  of  his  successor,  Dr.  Fleming,  in  one  of  his  de- 
spatches to  the  Home  (lovernment,  praises  Dr.  Scallan,  while 
he  speaks  of  his  successor  in  the  language  of  coarse  vulgarity. 
Indeed,  Dr.  Scallan  has  been  censui'ed,  and  ajjparently  with 
some  reason,  for  being  too  yielding  in  his  endeavors  to 
please  and  pr()})itiate  his  Protestant  friends.  "  \\'e  may 
hope,  however,"  writes  Dr.  ^lullock,  ''circumstances  at  that 
time  excused  conduct  which  at  present  would  bo  most 
injudicious." 

In  1(S1S  Dr.  P>ourk(>  was  appointed  the  first  P/ishop  of 
Nova  Scotia,  and  though  the  appointment  had  no  imme- 
diate inllueiice  on  Newfoundland,  still  it  was  in  some  sort  a 
strenirtheninii'  to  the  Church  to  have  a  iKMiihborinii"  province 
raised  to  the  dignity  of  a  \'icariate  Apostolic.  It  was  proof 
that  Catholics  were  increasing,  and  that  the  days  of  persecu- 
tion were  passing  away. 

Jn  his  later  years.  Dr.  Scallan  was  affected  with  a  paralytic 
attack,  which  slightly  affected  the  l)rain,  and  which  will  ac- 
count for  any  weakness  which  may  have  occurred  in  his 
ecclesiastical  rule. 

"No  oiu',"  says  Dr.  Fleming,  in  his  "  Ttclaziono"'  to  Propa- 
ganda, "could  surjjass  Dr.  Scallan  in  his  aii.\i(>ty  tor  the 
advancement  of  the  Mission  :  but,  unfortunately,  Avhen  he  had 
fornuHl  his  designs  to  carry  out  his  intended  object,  he  was 
assailed  by  a  sickness  which  obliged  him  to  remain  for 
the  greater  part  of  a  year  in  a  more  salubrious  climate,  and 
which,  after  a  few  years,  deprived  the  Church  of  a  most 
zealous  and  estim;il)le   i)relate."' 

The  fault,  or  injudicious  conduct,  hinted  at  b}'  Dr. 
Mullock,  of  which  Dr.  Scallan  was  accused,  w^as  one  which 
sprung  out  of  his  mild  and  gentle  disposition.  lie  was  of  a 
most  gracious  and  tolerant  spirit,  and  it  would  ap[)ear  that 


240 


ECCLESIASTICAL  HISTORY 


he  allowed  his  yiehling  toinjx'iMinont  to  carry  Iiiiu  a  little 
too  far  in  hi.s  desire  to  conciliate  all  relii>i<)us  denominations. 
No  douht  it  was  with  the  desire  oC  hrinirinuf  hack  the  lost 
sheep  to  the  fold.  In  his  rejHJrt  to  the  Cardinal  Prefect  of 
Propaiiiinda  (1822)  he  says:  "The  Faith  is  now  slowly  but 
isurely  increasinj;,  and  daily  sonic  are  coinini;  over  to  us. 
No  obstacle  is  placed  in  our  way  by  those  in  authority,  and 
the  Governor  is  most  friendly  (o  me,  and  most  faithful.  I 
have  had  him  occasionally  to  dine  at  my  house."  In  order 
to  carry  out  those  views,  however,  he  sli<ihtly  outsti'p})ed 
the  bonds  of  iirudence.  He  allowed  his  clei'iiy  to  attend 
Protestant  fimerals,  and  to  entei'  the  churches  and  remain 
present  at  their  funeral  services  ;  and  also  attended  himself 
at  some  sort  of  thaidvsjiiving  service,  on  which  occasion  the 
])rayei's  were  nwd  ''by  tlu>  Protestant  l)ishop  of  Nova  Scotia." 
No  matter  how  laudable  the  motive  may  be,  tlier(>  are  certain 
limits,  beyond  which  the  tenets  of  the  Catholic  Church  allow 
not  her  children  to  step.  We  may,  and  indeed  are  bound  to, 
assist  our  neijxhbors  in  all  vorls  of  idcvci/  aiid  cli(ir!f>/, 
.spiritual  and  cor[)oral.  AVe  may  assist  as  friends  or  mourners 
at  funeral  processions ;  we  may  help  to  bury  the  dead,  and  to 
perform  every  other  act  to  alleviate  the  sorrrow  of  our 
aOlicted  Protestant  fellow-men  ;  but  we  are  not  allowed  to 
attend  at  the  reUginiis  ceremontj.  This  alone  is  forbidden  us, 
and  most  reasonsdtly,  —  for  it  is  the  belief  of  the  Church  that 
.such  service  \ii  heretical ,  and  it  would  l)e  a  sin  to  countenance 
it  in  any  way.  It  is,  thercfcn-e,  untair  to  accuse  Catholics  of 
J)i<i()try  on  this  account.  They  only  act  uj)  to  their  reli^'ious 
convictions,  and  not  from  any  uncharital)le  sjjirit.  V\\{\\ 
regard  to  Dr.  Seal  Ian,  it  is  certain  that  he  was  a  most  holy 
and  /Aialous  Bishop,  and,  as  Dr.  ^Mullock  writes,  "we  may 
hope  that  the  circumstances  of  the  tinier  excused  his  conduct." 
AVe  nuist  also  remember  that  he  was  suHi-rinu' from  a  malady 
which  irreatly  impaired  his  reason.  Nevertheless,  he  was 
censured  by  lionu;  for  this  weakness  ;  but  as  he  was  on  his 
death-bed  when  the  censure  arrived,  it  was  not  made  known 
to  him. 


n 

I 


OF   NEWFOUNDLAND. 


247 


In  1827  Dr.  Scalhui  vi.sitcd  Roiiio,  and  was  very  well 
roceiv(>(l  hy  the  Popo  and  liis  superiors  in  l*r()[)airan;la.  He 
also  made  a  visitation  of  IMaeentia  Wny,  and  administered 
Contirmation  in  Burin  and  Plaeentia,  and  several  other  plaees. 
Ilis  health  now  lu-gan  to  give  way  altogether.  He  visited 
Euroi)e  more  than  once.  In  the  year  1<S28,  finding  he  eonld 
no  longer  discharge  liis  duties,  he  sought  for  a  coadjutor.  He 
accordingly  wrote  to  Cardinal  C'ai)rara,  I'refect  of  the  Prop- 
aganda, e\i)laining  the  ditlicult  circumstances  of  the  Mission, 
the  want  of  priests,  and  tlie  labors  to  be  undergone  by  a 
Prelate  who  would  conscientiously  discharge  his  duty,  reeom- 
mending  at  the  same  time  as  his  coadjutor  and  successor 
Father  Michael  Anthonv  Flemini::,  f<>i"  manv  v<"ii"s  the  nrin- 
cipal  missioner  in  St.. John's.  He  had  himself  done  as  much 
as  he  could  i)erforni ;  visited  the  Southern,  Northern,  and 
Western  shores  as  far  as  IJurin  and  Harbor  Grace  ;  but  the 
remote  north  and  west,  not  to  sjx'ak  of  Labrador,  were 
entirely  beyond  his  reach.  All  these  reasons  being  laid 
before  the  Sacred  (V)ngregation  of  Propaganda,  his  ))rayer 
was  granted,  and  Father  Fleming  Avas  appointed  coadjutor, 
Vicar-A})ostolic,  and  liishop  of  Carpasia  in  jHtvlihiis.  On 
the  28th  October,  182i),  he  consecrated  his  successor  in,  the 
"Old  Chapel,"  —  the  first  time  that  an  episcopal  consecra- 
tion was  ever  performed  in  Xewfoundland. 

He  survived  but  a  short  time.  Eepeated  ntta-ks  of  pa- 
ralysis undermined  his  constitution.  Day  after  day  he  got 
weaker  and  weaker,  and  on  the  21»th  of  May  following,  the 
feast  of  SS.  Simon  and  Jude,  he  resigned  his  soul  into  the 
hands  of  his  Creator.  He  left  the  proi)erty  he  possessed  to  his 
successor,  to  estal)Iish  schools  and  a  seminary.  It  was  not 
found  possible  to  establish  the  si'minary  at  the  time,  and  the 
funds  were  devoted  to  the  founding  of  a  convent,  and  partly 
for  providing  priests  for  the  Mission. 

He  was  interred  in  the  yard  of  the  "  Old  Chapel ;  "  l)ut  it 
was  intended  merely  as  a  temporary  resting-place,  for  his 
remains,  immediately  after  Dr.  Fleming's  death,  were  trans- 
ferred to  the  cathedral,  and  buried  in  the  choir,  ))ehind  the 


^ 


248 


ECCLESIASTICAL  IIISTOUV 


higli  nhar.  Dr.  FIciniiii!:  left  somo  money  lo  have  a  iiionu- 
nuMit  crccti'd  for  him,  aiul  it  has  hccii  oxeciitcd  l)y  Ilonaii, 
and  is  placed  at  th<!  gospel  side  of  the  great  nave  of  the 
cathedral.  It  is  in  «Z/o  rilleco,  and  of  Saravez/a  marble.  Tho 
dying  Bishop  is  represented  on  a  couch  receiving  tho  last 
Sacraments  from  his  successor.  It  is  a  Iteautiful  work,  in  tho 
most  perfect  style  of  art,  and  will  he  for  auos  an  ornament 
to  the  cathedral. 

During  Dr.  Scallan's  episcopacy  many  improvements  took 
place  in  tho  country.  The  iiopnlation  became  more  settled, 
and  tho  ])ooplo  began  to  look  on  the  Island  as  their  homo. 
Education  began  to  bo  encouraged;  the  barl»arous  laws 
against  colonization  wen;  no  longei"  attemi)ted  to  be  enforced  ; 
the  idea  of  keei)ing  tlu^  country  merely  as  a  tishing-station  — 
"a  big  ship  moored  near  the;  Banks" — was  given  uj) ;  and  the 
inhal»ilants  might  build  or  re|)air  a  chinmoy  without  the 
special  leave  of  the  governor,  and  not  dread  thtit  (as  a  few 
years  previously)  it  would  be  pulled  down  by  the  "English 
authorities."  It  was,  in  fact,  becoming  a  rich  and  settled 
country;  and  though  mismanagement,  tyranny,  and  misrule 
had  left  their  marks  of  degradation  on  the  people,  still  some 
sigiis  of  im])rovoment  were  manifested  on  every  side,  and  a 
more  warm  relii»:ious  feelinii:  was  excited  among  the  Catholio 
po{)ulation. 


II'     t- 


OF   NEWFOUNDLAND. 


249 


CIIAPTKU   XX. 


LAIUlADon. 


Ori'iiii  of  ''lo  Xamp  —  PopuliiliDii  —  ^^ol•:lvillll  Missionarios  —  Anticosti  Annexed  to 
hi.  .luliu's  —  Division  of  I'iiiinliud  — liici'case  ol'  Calholiuity. 


AXK\V  iind  Ix'tter  prospot-t  was  now  oi)oiiiiii:^  for  Xow- 
t'oiindlimd.  For  tlirct!  I'ciiliirics  \\v  htwo  seen  licr, 
socially  and  i)olilically,  cxcommuiiifati'd  ;  scttlciiicnt  proliil)- 
itt'd  ;  cultivation  iorbiddcn  ;  roads  never  tlioiiiiiit  of;  odii- 
c.'ition  disre^jfarded  ;  tho  only  reIi<,don  cai)al)l()  of  tiviii/ini^ 
and  enliiilitening  the  people  first  oi)cidy  persecuted,  and 
latterly  only  sullenly  tolerated. 

A  great  cliani>e,  however,  was  now  al)out  to  take  ))laee. 
A  census  taken  in  18:^")  gives  the  poi)ul;iti()n  of  the  wholo 
Lsland  as  (;(),()<S(S,  among  whom  were  24,8S2  Catholics;  tliu.s 
giving  Protestants,  at  that  time,  a  majority  in  round  numhers 
of  5,000,  or  a  twelfth  of  the  whole.  Tlio  very  few  inhabitants 
then  on  tlie  Fi'eiich  Sliore  and  Jiai)rad()r  arc  not  enumerated. 

The  northern  ])ortion  of  the  American  continent  extend- 
ing from  the  lliver  St.  Lawrence  to  Hudson's  Uay  is  called 
"Labrador."  It  is  generally  su[)posed  that  this  name  was 
given  to  it  by  tho  Portugese  navigator,  Gaspar  de  C'orte- 
real,  the  exi)lorer,  if  not  the  discoverer,  of  this  region. 
"  lie,"  writes  Dr.  Mullock,  "imposed  this  curious  name  on 
it,  either  because  he  considered  it  adapted  to  tho  labors  of 
tho  husbandman,  or,  perhaps,  he  thought  that  tho  roI)Ust 
Es(|uimaux,  tlu^  aboriginal  inhabitants,  might  bo  converted 
into  '  laljoradovf's,''  working  slaves,  like  tho  African  negroes." 

Cottcrel's  Island,  in  Trinity  Bay,  is  supposed  to  bo 
called  from  Cortereal,^  who  discovered  this  j)art  of 
the    country    in    L'iOL       Ho   was  tho   next   explorer   after 


'J.r.  llowley. 


250 


ECCLKSIASTICAL  IIISTOUY 


Ciihot.  Tliis  is  Ihc  only  rciimiml  of  lliiit  cxfKMlition,  uiilo.ss 
Avo  iilso  !ul(l  roitiipil  Cove,  as  so  called  by  him  in  honor  of 
his  natives  land.  lie  is  supposed  also  to  ha\'(!  trivcn  tht>  iiaino 
of  "  Conception  Uay."  'I'lx!  map  painted  in  fresco  on  tlu^ 
walls  of  the  Lo(j(jic  of  the  Viitiean  J'alac(\  Uome,  by  A.  Var- 
rese,  and  reproduced  in  part  at  paue  '.u  of  this  work,  of  date 
1 ')')(),  irives  the  southern  portion  of  this  laud  as  the  "  Ti^ra 
do  C'ortc!  U'eal,"  while  the  central  portion  is  called  "Terra  do 
IJacealaos,"  and  the  more  northerly  ))art  is  desiunaled  as 
"Term  do  Labrador";  while  a  cajie  correspondinii'  to  thc^ 
position  of  the  entrance  to  the  Straits  of  IJel'*!  JsK'  is  called 
"C.  del  Laborado." 

On  a  map  of  still  older  dat(>,  namely  the  "(ilobus  Martini 
Ik'haim,  Narimbei'o'ensis,  14i)2,"  this  same  country,  I.e.,  the 
southern  i)art  of  Labrador,  is  called  "Cambia."  Sir  Richard 
Whitbourne,  writiuiT  in  lOK)  (p.  Id)  calls  it  "Cambalew," 
and  it  is  calh-d,  as  latc^  as  1717,  in  the  "British  Pilot"  of 
Taverner,  by  the  name  of  "  Cambaloii."  This  name  owes  its 
oriiiiu  to  th(^  desci-iplion  of  Mai'co  Polo,  who  travelled  in  the 
Last  in  the  thirteenth  century,  lie  spok(<  of  the  kinii'doms 
of  Cipaniio,  Manii'o,  Cathay,  and  Cambalou.  'i'his  latter 
country  he  ])laced  "to  the  north-ciist  of  Cathay,"  that  is, 
China.  Now,  the  navijrators  who  followed  C-ohuubus  were 
under  the  impression  that  they  had  discovered  the  same 
lands  as  ^Farco  Polo.  Columbus,  indeed,  never  knew  till 
the  day  of  his  death  that  he  had  discovered  the  >*'ew  World. 
Hence  these  post-Columbian  navigators  gave  to  tin;  coun- 
tries discovered  the  same  names  as  those  given  by  I'olo,  as 
nearly  as  they  could  judge  them.  Thus,  in  IJchaiurs  map 
the  land  which  occupies  the  position  where  Newfoundland 
is  situated  is  called  "Cathai";  and  as  a  c()nse<jueucc  the 
land  to  the  north  of  it  is  called  "Cambalou."  On  Cabot's 
map  the  whole  of  Labrador  is  called  "Terra  d(^  liaccalaos." 
It  received  its  name  of  "Labrador,"  as  Dr.  Mullock  rightly 
suggests,  from  Cortcreal.  ]vichard  Ldens,  writing  as 
early  as  L")r)5,  speaks  of  it  as  the  coast  of  the  land  of 
"Laboradores."     The  inhabitants  are  uieu  of  good  corpora- 


? 


OF   NKWFOUXDLANI). 


251 


„ 


t 


ttirc,  !illli()Ui(li  (iiwny  like  Iiuliuns,  and  hihnviovH.  He  siiys 
it  liiul  this  iiaiiio  Itct'oro  Cortcreiil,  and  tliiil  lie  called  it  at'lcr 
liis  own  naiin\  It  is  callod  on  Clianiplain's  maps  (KIO.'J) 
"Xonvc'lle  Fi-ancc  ;  "  hut  ho  gives  that  nanx;  to  all  Canada, 
in  fact  lo  all  America.  I'ietro  Pas((nai:lio,  Venelian  amhas- 
sadof  in  I'oitnizal,  1")01,  says  Corttjreal  hroiight  homo 
Ihiily-seven  oC  the  inhahilanls  of  tho  new  country,  who  an; 
pronounced  "  admirahly  adapted  for  htfjor";  hence;  ho  calls 
Iho  land  "  Terra  dc;  los  Lahoradores  "  —  land  of  tin;  laborers. 
If  the  name  had  nd'enuico  to  tho  agricultural  ca[)al)ilities  of 
the  rc'ii>in  itself  it  was  most  ina])pro[)riate,  for  the  coast  is 
bleak  and  barren,  and  the  summer  season  too  short  for  vege- 
tation. It  was  not  moro  a})pi'o))rial(;  as  applied  to  the  peo- 
ple. The  Ivs(iuiniaux  are  neither  ninnerous  nor  willing  to 
apply  tlicnisclves  to  contimious  labor,  being,  like  all  tho 
Noi'th  American  Indians,  chielly  fishers  and  hiuiters.  Tho 
wealth  of  lial)rador  consists  in  its  fisheries,  which  employ 
over  ;5(),(K)()  people  every  sununer,  and  for  the  prosecution 
of  which  its  shores,  indented  at  every  few  miles  with  coves, 
bays,  and  h!irl)ors,  and  fringed  with  countless  islands,  arc 
j)cculiarly  adapted.  Tho  western  portion,  extending  from 
lilanc  Sablon  to  the  lliver  St.  .John,  Itelongs  to  tho  govern- 
ment of  Canatla  ;  the  eastern  anil  northern  portions,  to  Xew- 
foundland. 

The  total  luunlx'r  of  permaniMit  inhabitants  on  the  Xew- 
foundland  jjortion  Avas,  in  l-Sol!  (when  Dr.  jNIulIock  wi'ote), 
lJ)')o,  of  whom  .'51.')  wer(v  Catholics,  lint  by  tho  census  of 
188-1  we  lind  the  population  has  increased  to  4,211  ;  Catho- 
lics, biU't.  The  larg(;  increase  of  ])opulation  of  Labrador 
over  that  of  lS7t,  ten  years  previous  (nearly  double;  it  was 
then  2,1  Hi),  is  owing  to  the  ci})lier  that  iho  jMoi-avians  are 
placed  at  1,.")11).  Their  [)rincipal  stations  are  Ilopedalo, 
l)oi)ulation,  170;  Xain,  2ii5 ;  Zoar,  13!l ;  Hebron,  207; 
Okak,  iWl;  Kamah,  (ID.  These  figures  would  seem  to 
bo  largely  above  the  reality,  but  as  tluiy  are  supplied  1)y 
tho  r)rethren  themselves,  there  is  no  means  of  testing  them. 
Tho   Kov.  I'ere  la  Casso,  O.M.J. ,  a  priest  of  tho  diocoso 


!| 


252 


ECCLESIASTICAL   IIISTOUY 


of"  liiaiuouski,  avIio  iikiUos  si  yearly  visilalioii  to  llic  cxtfcino 
iiorllicni  portion  of  Lal)r!i(lor,  is  of  tlui  opinion  lliat  llio 
Moniviaus  cannot  exceed  three  or  tour  luuidi'cd.  "  More  of 
u  lradin<>'  tlian  a  missionary  estaMisliinent ,  the  l>rotliers  have 
collected  around  tiuMU  some  Ksijuiniaiix,  diiznitied  witli  tiic 
name  of  Christian,  hut,  if  repoit  speaks  ti'ue,  totally  igno- 
rant of  any  ndiu'ion,  and  ])rineipaliy  em[)Ioved  in  the  iurring 
trade  for  the  missionaries"  (Dr.  Midioek,  .MS.). 

AN'haiever  truth  tlii're  may  ]n)  in  Dr.  ^Midlock's  remarks 
as  to  tile  state  of  morality  or  reliiiion  amonir  the  Ks(|uimaux 
JNloravians,  it  is  certain,  and  no  secret  is  macU^  of  it,  tliat  tin; 
principal  ohject  of  the  brothers  is  trade.  Ivieh '*  Mission  " 
consists  of  three  men  ;  namely,  a  "trader,"  or  husincss 
nianan'cr,  a  carpenter  and  a  "  reader,"  who  looks  after  the 
Sj)irituals.  1'hc  dill'erent  olliees  oi-  situations  iwc.  iil!e<l 
alternatidy  every  year  hy  the  thret;  men,  each  talviii^'  his 
triennial  turn  at  kee[>inir  the  accounts,  keepin:i4'  the  huiidiniis 
in  orde.',  or  lookini:'  al'ter  the  souls,  as  {lie  case  may  he.  As 
the  wliole  concern,  however,  is  carried  on  as  a  reliii'ious 
institution,  they  enjoy  many  ])ri\  ilciics,  such  as  receiving;' all 
articles  IVee  of  duty,  on  account  of  which  they  arc  al)le  to 
luidersell  iIh^  Hudson  l^ay  and  other  furrinu'  com[)ani(>s. 
This  hurdensome  liandi<'appini:'  has  heen  the  causi?  of  a  i:'ood 
deal  of  ill-fecrmii'  and  remonstraut'e. 

In  the  month  of  the  St.  Lawrence  lies  a  laru'i'  island,  called 
"A  iticosli,"  a  coi-ruption  of  the  Indian  name  "  Naciiitoches." 
It  was  discovered  by  ,Iaci|ues  C'artier  on  the  l.")th  Auynist, 
IT).'}."),  who  calle<l  it  "  Isle  de  TAssomption  ;"  hut  the  Indian 
nanic  survived,  'i'he  harremiess  of  i\\o  soil  and  the  want  of 
ports  have  hitherto  j)i'evented  its  colonization.  A  few  families 
of  liuht-house,  keepers  and  assistants,  towards  savinif  ship- 
wrecked mariners,  constitute  its  whole;  population.  In  the 
year  1820  these  two  places,  vi/.,  LaI)i'ador  and  Anticosti, 
were  unitcul  to  the  Vicariate  Apostolic  of  Newfouudh.nd. 
Joseph  Octavius  IMessis  was  liishop  of  (^iiehec,  and  thou  lii  be 
was  o|)posed  to  the  division  of  his  extensive  diocese,  .still,  these 
places  being  so  nMuote  and  inaccessible,  he  recommended  to 


-» 


.' 


OF    NEWFOUNDLAND. 


253 


»' 


tli(^  Popo  (Pius  VII.)  tlid  (lisnicinhoniuMil  of  tlicin  from  Que- 
bec iiii<l  llicir  aiuu'xalioii  to  XcwfomullMnd.  Dr.  kSciillan  was 
coiisuUcd  on  tlii^  nialtcr,  and  coMscntcMl  to  llu;  arraugcnicnt, 
lliouiili  liaviiig  no  nicans  for  providiiij^  niissioiiaries,  even  for 
tlu^  i)art  of  Ncwibundland  iu\'ir  his  own  residi^nce.  P('rlia[)s 
li(!  tlioiiiiiit  that  at  soino  future  period  hi;  niiglit  provide  for  it, 
and  considered  liie  eharii'e  at  \ho.    "nie  as  a  men^  nominal  one. 

A  lirief  was  accordini^ly  expculiled  on  the  1st  of  F(;hruary, 
]S2(\  eoimlersianed  l)v  Cardinal  (  onsahi,  dismeml)erinir  (he 
(Quebec  diocese,  and  givinu"  the;  island  ol"  Anticosti,  and  liiat 
pari  of  the  land  of  Lal»rad()r  bounded  l)y  the  northern  ])ank 
of  the  Iiiver  St.  .John,  to  the  \'icariale  Apostolic  of  2S(^\vfound- 
land  ;  that  tlie  Uisliop  should  afford  to  the  Catholics  living"  iu 
those  rei^ions  all  the  spiritual  assistanct;  they  re(|uired,  and 
endeavor,  as  tar  as  was  in  his  ])o\vei',  to  brinu'  th<'  sava^'es 
and  heretics  of  that  re<iion  into  the  fold  of  Christ. 

Whatever  may  have  been  Dr.  Scallan's  intention,  Ik;  never 
hiid  it  in  his  j)ower  to  send  missioners  to  thesis  j  laces. 
Somelime  after  Canada  apiin  o])taiiu'd  Jurisdiction  o\cr  all 
these  coasts  as  far  as  Ulaiic  Sablon  (or  L'Anse  a  Sabloii), 
and  wiieu  some  Canadians  beuan  to  settle  there  as  seal- 
catchers,  they  always  looked  to  (Quebec  for  s|)iritual  as- 
sistanci'.  Now  and  then  a  Canadian  ])riest,  with  leave  of 
the  ^'icar-A))Ostolic  of  Newfoundland,  visited  tin;  si-attered 
settlers,  and  administered  the  sacraments  of  baj)tism  and 
matrimony.  I.iatterly,  since  the  Canadian  (iovermnent  has 
ereclecl  liiiht -houses  and  siunal-slalions  on  these  coasts,  the 
visits  (if  cleriiv  are  more  frc(jiieii(,  as  the  priests,  by  jxM'inis- 
siou  of  (ioverunienl ,  a\ail  themselves  of  the;  semiannual  trips 
of  tlu?  supplying'  steamers  to  tlie  ditrerent  stations.  The 
New  t'oundland  portion  of  Labrador  was,  as  mentioned,  at- 
tended re;iulaily  by  a  clcri:vman  from  St.  flolm's  until  it  was 
made  a  parochial  disliict,  the  i)i'iest  residing  at  Fortime 
Harbor,  Notre  i)anu'.  Hay.  "  The  whole  arrangement ,"  v, files 
Dr.  Mullock,  "  between  Jiishop  IMessis  and  J>ishop  Scallan 
was  fjiulty,  but  it  has  now  been  rescinded.  .  .  .  iVnticosti 
as  yet  nomlnalli/  depends  on  Newfoundland." 


II 


r 


tarn 


mmmKi^m?--' 


254 


ECCLESIASTICAL  HISTORY 


In  the  latter  part  of  Dr.  Scallan's  life,  and  at  his  (loath, 
the  Vicariate  Avas  divided  into  iive  districts  or  parishes; 
viz  St.  John's,  Harbor  Grace,  Placontia,  Ferryland,  and 
Kin'-'s  Cove.  Tliis  latter  district  comprised  all  the  northern 
l,;ivs,  vi/.,  Trinitv,  T.onavista,  Fo-o,  Notre  Dame,  and  the 
lunthern  shores  to  Quirpon.  There  were  also  nuiny  Catliohc 
schools  in  the  principal  places,  and  C^itholics  had  every 
roi.son  to  congratulate  themselves  on  their  incr.'ase  ni  num- 
bers, Avealth,  and  social  standin- ;  on  the  spread  of  religion 
and  education,  and  the  near  approach  of  the  political  mllu- 
once  which  they  were  soon  to  wield  in  the  dcstnues  ot  the 
country. 


OK  NEWFOUNDLAND. 


2")') 


CHAPTER   XXT. 

iiT.  HKV.  Di;.  fi,i;mix<;,  I'orirnr  iusriop.  —  [is'20-is.r>.] 

Comiiu'iu'iMiK'iit  of  Dr.  Fli'iuiiijr's  Mpiscopitlc  —  St;it(:  (it'tlicCnlony  —  Ciitliolic  ICiniiiici- 
|);iti()n  —  Its  l-^lVocIs  on  Iri-liiueii  Al>roiul  —  liitoloiauce  in  St.  .lolm's —  I)(';;riuliiiLr 
Taxes  — Fiuu'riil  aiiil  Mania;;'e  Fcos  Imposed  on  Catliolies — Dr.  Kleinin};  lieruscs 
to  Pay  tlieni  —  lledivision  of  Parishes  —  Arrival  of  Xiiio  New  Mi>.^ic>iiarie3  — 
Falliers  "rroy,  Xowlaii,  ISerney,  P.  deary -- l>r.  Fiinniiiir  Presents  Menmiial  in 
]"avor  of  Isnianeipalion  —  Forwards  .Su!)seriplion  to  the  O'Connell  Fund  —  Ilis 
Ijil)eialil\'  towards  Dissenters  —  Obtains  for  tlieni  l!eli>;ions  Liberty. 


ri^IIE  Rt.  Rev.  Dr.  M.  A.  Floiuiiig,  hv\u<y  Coiidjutor 
-*"  liishop  (luriiijf  the  lust  yotir  of  I)i'.  Sciilliin's  lil'c,  suc- 
ceeded to  the  \'i(';u'i!ite  !it  his  doiuise,  and  ji'overned  it  tor  a 
period  of  twenty  yeiirs,  ainitlst  lutiny  troubles  and  I'ontradic- 
tions,  "with  *:reat  success. 

\U'  was  l)oni  near  (';irrick-on-Suir,  County  of  Tip[)erary, 
Irehmd,  in  the  year  17!)2.  Jlis  uncle,  Father  Martin  Fiein- 
i;ig,  a  veneral)le  priest,  was  guardian  of  the  Fnmciscans  in 
the  convent  of  Carrick,  luid  the  nephew  desired,  after  his 
exaini)le,  to  consecrtite  himself  to  God  in  the  Order  of  St. 
Francis.  Accordingly,  in  180S,  at  the  etirly  age  of  sixteen, 
he  received  tho  habit  of  St.  Frtuicis,  in  the  convent  of  Wex- 
foi'd.  from  the  lituuls  of  Dr.  Scidlan,  tlu'U  Superior  of  that 
House.  "The  foreign  estiiblishments  of  the  Irish  Franciscan 
l*roviiice  had  ftillen  in  the  continental  revolutions,  and  St. 
Isidore's  in  K'onie,  the  only  rtMiitiining  one,  was  under  setpies- 
trtition  by  the  I-'rench  "  (Dr.  Mullock). 

'J'he  instructors  of  the  young  novice  i..  A^'exf()rd  were  the 
Rev.  Richard  Hayes,  a  well-known  controversialist,  and,  sul>- 
setiuently,  delegate  to  IJoine  from  the  Ctitliolics  of  Ireland  to 
op))osG  the  concession  ol  a  veto  on  the  eli'ctioii  of  the  Irish 
Catholic  l?ishops  to  the  lirilish  ( io\ crmuent ,  ;ind  Dr.  Henry 
Hughes,  the  learnetl  and  Aixistolic  J»ishop  of  ( iil)r;iltar. 
Under  thcs(>   two  excellent   mtisters  he  pursued  his  studies, 


;m' 


MH.MUHkUHMI 


faitt*iiftfr«tgi— 1>  n 


!  Il 


25(3 


ECCLESIASTICAL   IIISTOUY 


iiiul  on  tlio  ir)(li  October,  1815,  he  wms  ordained  priest  by 
the  IVislioj)  of  Ferns.  Soon  after,  lie  was  a|)p()inted  to  the 
convent  at  Carriek,  nnder  liis  nncle,  and  eonnneneed  tlio 
usual  missionary  duties  of  an  Irish  friar.  The  old  convent- 
ual eliap(d  was  built  just  at  the  cessation  of  the  ))ersecntion, 
and  was,  as  miu'ht  be  expected,  a  poor  ::nd  totterinu"  ediliee. 
A\  ilh  the  permission  of  his  uncle,  Father  Fleminir  threw  it 
down  and  eonnneneed  the  new  church,  which  is  so  •i;veat  an 
ornament  to  the  town  at  i)resent.  liefore  he  had  time  to  com- 
plete the  bnildinir,  he  left  Ireland,  in  1823.  at  the  i)ressinj^ 
invitation  of  Dr.  Scallan,  for  Newfoundland.  A  year  or  two 
after  he  was  recalled  by  his  provincial  ;  but  Dr.  Scallan  rep- 
resented to  the  Propaganda  the  iireat  dearth  of  missioners  in 
Newfoundland,  and  accordiniily,  by  a  rescrijit,  his  ((bediencc 
was  transt'eri'ed  from  the  Irish  provinet;  to  the  Vicar  Apos- 
tolic of  Newfoundland.  He  therelbre  remained  in  St.  John's 
till  his  ai)point incnt  to  the  mitre,  e.\ercisin<r  the  duties  of 
curate. 

For  a  IMission  like  Newfoundland  he  was  peculiarly  (piali- 
tied  :  of  an  active  and  enei'ii'ctic  temiierament  and  u  wiry 
constitution,  a  i^reat  walker  and  an  excellent  horseman,  lui 
could,  in  his  vouth,  iro  through  falii;'U(^  whii-h  would  break 
down  many  others.  lie  had.  in  fact,  a  love  of  labor  as  if 
for  labor's  sake,  and  in  his  latter  years  he  is  tlujuii'lit  to 
have   shortened  his  life  by  unnecessary  exertions. 

At  the  re(iuest  of  Dr.  Scallan  he  was  nominated  Bishop, 
w'th  the  title  of  Cai'pasia  in  ixniihns,  and  Coadjutor  of  the 
\'icar  Ai)ostolic  of  Newlbundland,  with  tlu;  right  of  succes- 
sion. 

The  Ibdls  for  his  appointment  were  'Expedited  on  the  10th 
of  'Inly,  l.S21>,  and  on  the  28th  of  October  of  the  sanu>  year 
he  was  consecrated  by  Dr.  Scallan  in  the  "Old  Chapel,"'  two 
priests  assisting  by  dispensation,  on  accoimt  of  the  impossi- 
bililv  of  obtaining  assistant  Uishops. 

'I'he  assum|)tion  of  the  government  of  the  Church  of  Xewf- 
onndland  by  Dr.  Fleming  marks  the  opening  of  another 
great  era  in   our   ecclesiastical   history  ;    and   it  would  have 


I. 


OF   NEWFOrXDLAXD. 


257 


1)0011  inipossihle  to  find  a  man  1)o1tor  suilod  in  ovory  rospcct 
lor  tho  <:ro!it  work  boforo  Iiini  than  (ho  liishop  whom  the 
Holy  Si)irit  had  choson,  —  a  man  endowed  with  all  the  gifts 
of  mind  and  hody  noces.sary  for  a  grand  and  oncirons  duty  ; 
ol'strong  physical  powers,  great  ausferily  of  life,  indomilahlo 
Avill,  and  shrewd  mental  eii(h)wmenis.  Though  eclipsed  by 
tlu!  great  intellectual  luminary  who  sueceeded  him,  the  eolos- 
sal-minded  Dr.  Mullock,  yet  tho  educational  ac(iuirements  of 
Dr.  Fleming  were  of  no  mean  order.  lie  j)ossessed  a  wide 
versatility  of  talent,  as  his  rare  lil)rary  and  collection  of 
works  oil  art  plainly  show.  Yd  for  literature,  as  such,  he 
seemed  not  to  care  too  much,  his  hooks  generally  touching 
ui)on  th(>  practical  and  scientilic  region,  such  as  agri<'ulturo, 
architect in-e,  and  mechanics.  The  period  at  which  he  as- 
smncd  tho  spiritual  reins  in  Xewfoundland  was  one  of  great 
activity  all  over  the  world, —  intellectually,  politically,  and 
religiously.  Kngland  at  this  time  was  convulsed  to  her 
heart's  core  by  the  groat  religious  movement  which  has  gone 
on  ever  since,  and  has  not  yet  ceased  ;  which  has  had  such  a 
powerful  olfoct  upon  her  iimer  life  as  is  likely  to  result  in  a 
eom[)lote  otfacement  of  her  religious  and  social  charactei- 
isties  I'oi'  the  past  three  centuries.  America,  like;  a  young 
giant,  was  revelling  in  tho  enjoyment  of  her  new-tbund  lil»- 
ei'ty.  and  was  making  vast  strides  in  tho  realms  of  science, 
colonization,  intor-eonununication,  and  all  that  t'onstitutcs 
civilization.  Above  all,  she  was  bringing  mio  tho  domain 
of  the  world  that  now  an(l  wondrous  power  of  steam,  which 
was  soon  to  ci'oato  an  empire  lor  ilsell",  more  astounding, 
oven,  than  thoai't  of  printing  had  done  some  tour  hundred 
years  before. 

Ireland,  which  ov(M' held  such  intimate  relations  with  Xowf- 
oundland,  and  cwry  ])ulse  of  whoso  national  life  awoke;  a 
corresponding  tlu'ol)  in  our  citlonial  heai't  :  whose  Joys  and 
sorrows  were  not  merely  rotlectod.  as  in  a  mirror,  in  the 
souls  of  her  transatlantic  children,  but  were  really  and  act- 
ually participated  in  by  them,  — Ireland,  then,  in  this  glorious 
year  of  hS^'J,   was  just   raising  her  head   from  beneath   the 


258 


KCCLESIASTICAL   IIISTOUV 


lyiaut  lu'ol  of  oppression.  The  voice  of  the  j^reat  Tribune, 
arnu'd  witli  the  powerful  battle-axe  of  Truth,  had  cleft  down 
the  I)Mrrieatles  of  prejudice  and  l)i,ii()trv,  and  <;ained  for  tho 
downtrodden  nation  the  <ilorious  birthriii'ht  of  reiiuious  lib- 
erty, —  Catholic  emancipation. 

The  ellect  of  this  urcat  moral  victory  was  not  i-onlined  to 
Ireland  alone.  It  had  an  elevatini^  and  ennoMini:-  ellect  on 
tlu^  wh()l(>  Irish  race,  now  scattered  in  their  millions  ihrouiih- 
out  the  vast  tei'ritories  of  America  and  Australia.  Tlu;  long 
centuries  of  persecution,  ihouii'h  'they  had  never  subjuiiated 
the  will  of  the  Irish  people,  nor  (|uenched  the  liirht  of  laith  ; 
vet,  throuuh  fori'cd  i)overtv,  with  all  its  deuradini!:  accom- 
paniments,  l)lottin<>;  entirely  out  of  their  lives  for  generations 
the  i?o()thing  and  civilizing  intluences  of  wealth  and  social 
intercourse',  had,  at  last,  so  crushctl  down  their  nobh;  natures 
as  to  almost  obliti'rate  from  their  souls  the  feeling  of  inde- 
pei\dence,  and  to  superinduce  that  state  of  self-abasement 
Avhich  is  ever  characteristic  of  a  race  of  slaves.  'J'his  sordid 
fei'ling,  which  caused  them  to  ci'inge  in  humiliation  I)eforc 
their  lellow-nien.  whom  tluy  knew  only  as  jjowerful  tyrants,' 
they  cai'ried  aiToss  the  wich^  ocean,  and  cnch  in  the  free  air 
of  America  were  found  men  of  Know-nothing  ly[)e  reaily  to 
take  advantage  of  this  weakness. 

Kinancii)ati()n,  ho.vcvcr,  niach^  them  feel  themselves  at  last 
freemen,  ami  they  soon  began  to  hold  u[)  their  heads  and 
look  their  fellow-men  in  the  face  without  shame  or  fear.  The 
foul  miasma  ol"  slavery  could  not  survive  in  the  Knipire  of 
AVestern  l-'reedom  ;  but  strong  ellbrts  were  made  by  the 
domineering  l)arty  to  keep  it  alive  in  the  British  I'olonies, 
and  nowhere  more  so  than  in  Newfoundla'.d.  Although, 
according  to  the?  highest  legal  authoritii's,  and,  indeed,  to  the 
dictates  of  common-sense,  the  ])en:d  statutes,  devised  for  tle^ 
extermination  of  the   national   reliiiion  in  Irckuui,  should  not 


J 


'  Our  iviulcrs  niuy  rocall  to  mind  a  (Icsctiplion  by  A.  M.  Sullivan,  in  liis  "  Xew  lie- 
land,  '  of  ii  jiarly  of  pnof  poasants  stamlin;;-  triMnbliii;;,  liat  in  hand,  l)y  llio  roadside, 
amid  adrencliinf^  rain,  wliilc  tlic  trnel  qtuI  vuljrar  "  ajjoiit  "  loisurcly  rides  by,  eying 
UiL'ui  with  all  tlic  gross  bratulity  of  a  veritable  slave-ma'-tcr  of  llic  Lc  Drew  type. 


OK   NEWFOrNDLAND. 


259 


»'V 


extend  bovond  the  limits  of  thai  coimtrv  ;  novorthelcss,  as  we 
have  scon,  the  spirit  of  tiicso  laws  j)rac'tit'ally  prcvaih'd  even 
more  l)itt('rly  anions'  us.  The  ureal  distance  from  the  molhcr- 
eountry  uavc  conlich'ncc  to  [)ctty  tyrants,  who  arrogated  to 
themselves  all  the  powers  of  law,  —  nay,  even  the  "high 
dominion  ""  of  life  and  dciitli. 

An  extraordinary  example  of  this  occiUTcd  at  St.  John's, 
after  the  i)assini>-  of  the  Emancipation  Act.  The  conunander 
of  the  garrison  at  that  lime  was  Colonel  Pjonrke,  a  Calholie. 
\)y  tlu'  constitution  of  the  (Jovernmcnt  he  should  have  been 
President  of  the  Council;  hut  previous  to  the  passing  of  the 
act  he  was  declared  discjualitied,  on  account  of  his  religion, 
for  taking  his  place  at  the  council-tal)le,  though  not  for  com- 
manding Her  Majesty's  i'orces  I — a  nuich  more  important 
position  and  mon^  respon>ii)lc  ollice,  and,  for  a  dlslot/al 
man,  a  nioic  dangerous  one.  When  the  act  became  law,  he 
presented  himself  to  take  his  place  at  the  board,  but  to  his 
surprise*  he  was  told  he  was  still  dis(jnalilicd,  as  the  Emanci- 
paiion  \{{  did  not  extend  to  the  colonies,  the  penal  laws 
not  having  hccri  enacted  for  thes(>  countries.  Such  was  the 
illogieal  reasoning  ot"  the  Xewfonndland  Jiench.  If  th(>  penal 
laws  did  not  extend  to  Newfoundland,  surely  neither  did  the 
disabiliiii's  which  were  created  by  those  laws;  yet  the  New- 
foundland authorities  persisted  in  this  lo|)sided  logic,  and  it 
was  only  after  a  protracted  api)eal  to  the  ImpcM'ial  (Jovern- 
menl.  su[)p()rted  chieth'  by  the  purse  and  inlluence  of  Dr. 
Fleming,  that  the  alfair  was  decidi'd  according  to  law  iuid 
c()nunon-sens(>,  and  Catholics  were  declareil  to  be  on  a 
perfect  e(|uality  with  Protestants  in  the  colony.  W't  it  was 
lonii'  aft(>r  this,  and  after  thev  had  fouLi'ht  their  wav,  step  I)y 
stc[),  that  the  Catholii's  received  anything  like  ju'-lice  or  fair 
play.  .Vt  this  j)eriod,  also,  was  set  on  foot  in  Newl'oundland 
the  agitation  tor  llonie  liuU\  or  l{esponsiI)le  (Jovermnent, 
which  was  at  lenuth  uranted  in  ISal.  This  ^reat  boon  was 
achieved  principally  through  the  ellbrts  of  leading  Catljolies, 
among  whom  (he  names  of  Kent,  Morris,  Doyle.  Nugent,  and 
others,  live  ever  embalmed  in  the  memories  of  the  people 


fl. 

Ml 


J 


2  no 


r,rri,F.siASTir.\r,  iiis'ioiiv 


Ahoiil  tliis  tiiuo  mIso  \ho  counlrv  Wiis  hh'sscd  with  ;i  i^ciicr- 
oiis  Miul  ii()l)lc-iiiiii(l(Ml  <^()\  ('I'lior.  Sir  'riioiiiiis  Coclir.'inc,  tlic 
tlist  ii()n-iKi\  ;il  i:<)\ cnior.  mikI  cnliri'lv  tVcc  iVoiii  tli;i(  ikiitow- 
iiiiiidcd  spirit  ol"  (lie  ii>-liiiii:'  iulmirtils.  ;i  i^odd  dcid  of  wiiich 
\\;is  iiilicritcil  li\-  (lie  iiaxiil  ijovcrnors.  lie  Itiiilt  (iovcrn- 
iiii'iit  House,  opened  up  loiids  Mild  streets.  iu;iui:iir;ile(|  the 
Supreme  ("oiiit,  siud  eiieour.'i^cd  in  e\er\  pos>il»le  \v;iy  the 
adviiiieeiuelit  of  llie  eoh)liy. 

Althouiih  the  mild  and  eoueiliiit iiii:'  disposition  ot'  I)i'. 
Seallan  had  had  :iii  apparent  inollityinu;  eU'eet ,  yet ,  as  Dr. 
Mulio(iv  wi'ites,  "  it  i>  to  he  teareil  that  eoneihation.  carried 
loo  far.  is.  in  the  end,  injurious  to  ndiiiion.""  \\  ITde,  on  tlie 
one  hand,  it  iiuhici's  indillerenee  anionic'  ( 'atholies  to  the  essen- 
tial distinction  lietween  the  true  and  the  false  worship,  it  does 
not,  on  the  oilier,  induce  any  true  >piiit  of  tolerance  or  re- 
spect from  the  persecutors.  "  A  maw  kish  liliernlily,""  con- 
tinues I)r.  Mulloek,  "iiidueid  tlic>e  ('atholies  who  liad 
])retensioiis  to  ii'entility  to  despi>e  the  i)rohihition  of  the 
Church  a*rainst  iioinii'  to  heretical  worship.  It  was.  in  fact, 
(piite  usual  at  that  day  to  i^o  to  ^Tass  in  the  niornini:'.  and  to 
('hureh.  as  it  was  called,  in  the  evinini;',  to  eoniplimeiit 
their   Protestant    iViends." 

Such  was  the  state  of  the  Church  in  Xewfoimdland  when 
that  <xrvt\{  and  holy  man.  Dr.  Fleming,  was  called,  like  an- 
other Sylvester,  to  hriiii:'  her  forth  from  the  eataeomhs  of 
])erseeuti()n  into  the  ulorious  liiihf  ot"  frecMloin's  >un.  With 
what  spirit  he  entered  upon  hi>  nol)le  work  he  tells  us  with 
a  frank  earnestness.  dcNoid  of  all  pretended  humility,  in  his 
report  to  the  Cardinal  I'refect  of  I'ropai^anda  and  in  lp>  let- 
ters to  Dr.  Sprat  I  :  "  I'efore  my  eon>eeration  .  .  .  F 
])assed  six  velars  in  the  Inland  as  a  curate,  durinu' which  time, 
in  the  discluirii'e  of  my  duty.  I  had  visited  every  port  and 
cre(d<  in  the  di>trict  of  St.  doliiTs,  and  also  of  ('oiiception 
r)ay.  and  I  felt  a  ]ieculiar  interest  in  slndyini!,'  the  manners 
of  the  people,  and  eiiterini:'  into  tluMr  wishe.-.  with  a  view- 
to  discover  th(>  hest  mode  of  sui)})Iyin!j,-  their  wants  and  iiu- 
provini:  their  condition"'  (Letter  to  Dr.    S|)ratt).     "I    knew 


/  ,-, 


OK    NKWrorXDI  AND. 


•2CA 


% 


their  Miiiits,  iiml  I  felt  niysclC  !iiiiiii:it('(l  l)_v  a  vivid  doirc 
to  satisfy  tluMu  "  (" l!('l<i::ii)iir,"  p.  11).  ndbi'c  his  coii- 
sec'vatioii  a^  liisjiop.  as  we  Iim\('  ah'cady  seen,  he  took  the 
iiiatlcr  of  ('(hicatioii  of  yoiitli  into  iiis  hands,  aiid  siiccccdcMl, 
ill  s|)i(('  ot"  ,<'Tav('  dilliciillics,  in  pincinLr  Catholic  (Mliication  on 
a  linn  hasis.  From  what  we  ha\('  also  seen  of  liis  jution  in 
tlu'  matter  of  the  Communion  festival  of  the  youiiDj  <:irls, 
immediately  aftei'  his  eonseeriition,  and  (hirin<;  Dr.  Scallan's 
lifetime,  it  will  he  seen  lliiit  he  had  iirasped  the  reins  with  a 
tii'in  and  maslei'ly  hand,  and  that  the  eoneiliatory.  if  not 
almost  vaeillatiiiif,  n-'jii/ir  ot"  Dr.  Seallan  wiis  jit  an  end. 
Another  dillieulty  which  he  had  to  contend  with  imine(li;itely 
after  his  coiis(-eration  was  the  inatt(>r  of  marriaire  and  hnrial 
fees,  ^^'hen  visitiiiir  Ireland  in  the  year  iS.'Jii,  a  puhlie  din- 
ner was  oi\,.|i  i()  him  hy  the  "Catholic  Society  of  Ireland."  at 
the  Ivoyal  IIot(d,  Collc'i'e  (Jroon,  Duhlin.  In  the  coui'se  of 
anelo(iuent  and  n'lowinu'  speech,  Dr.  Flemiiii;  alluded  as  fol- 
lows to  this  sultject  :  "One  of  the  marks  of  degradation  they 
imposed  on  tl;e  peoi)le  was  foi-ciiii:'  the  IJishoj)  to  l)ay  four- 
teen pence  for  each  m.-'.rriaui'  that  was  performed.  I  re- 
monstrated with  His  l^xcidlency  on  the  unjustness  of  the 
demand,  hut  in  vain.  A\'hen  nothinij  else  was  Icl't  me  to  do 
I  ))eremi)torily  refused  to  pay  It,  and  the  unjust  and  deixrad- 
ini:'  impost  tell  to  the  i>-round.  .  .  .  Another  infamous 
tax  that  was  im[)osed  upon  Catholics  was  the  payment  of 
twidvc  shillinirs  for  every  Catholic  that  was  l)iirie(l,  and  the 
most  desi'radinu"  of  all  was  that  the  i)islio[)s  were  forced  to  c(d- 
lect  it.  I  refused  to  do  so.  and  it  no  loiiii'er  exists."'  In  his 
letter  to  Dr.  Spr.itl  he  says:  "The  Protestiint  rector  re- 
(piii'ed  a  return  of  the  hniials  of  Catholics,  and  the  sum  of 
tw(dve  and  sixpence  as  l»urial  lees  tor  every  individual,  even 
of  those  huiied  in  the  ( 'atholic  hurial-izround.  This  was  scrti- 
])ulously  exacted  duriiiii'  the  administration  of  Dr.  O'Donel. 
the  lirst  Bishoj)  of  the  Island,  down  to  the  last  hour  of  Dr. 
Seallan  ;  and,  as  even  p()^('rty  could  not  claim  an  cxeni[)t  ion 
from  the  rector's  fee.  scarce  a  wei'k  passed  without  witness- 
ing the  heart-sickening  cxhihition  of  a  party  (friends  of  the 


# 


'i       »' 


21)2 


ECPLESIASTICAL    IMSTORV 


(Iccciiscd)  collccliii^jj  pence  IVoiii  door  to  door  to  ineol  tliis 
t'luel  'mi})osl.  !')>  :i  siiiule  ;iet  of  lii'iuness  I  hroke  it  down. 
I  laughed  nt  llie  elaiin,  and  il  sunk  lo  Uie  dust."  Fortu- 
nately for  (lie  historian  of  these  limes,  Dr.  Fl<'inin<j:  Avas  a 
most  voUnninous  writer,  and  still  more  so,  he  always  drew  a 
I'ouuh  draft  of  every  letter,  even  upon  the  most  trivial  suh- 
jeet.  A  laruc  j)aeket  of  these  oriiiinal  letti'rs  has  heoji  kindly 
presented  to  the  writer  hy  \Uv  Hon.  }>\v.  Justieo  J.  J.  Little, 
from  which  a  very  succinct  history  of  Dr.  Fleminy's  episco- 
pacy' can  he  drawn.  Ainonjj;  tlu^so  letters  is  one  to  the 
J'rotestant  rector  (name  not  j^iven)  on  this  suhject.  The 
dale,  April,  1S2!),  shows  that,  even  before  his  consecration. 
Father  Flemini'  had  laikled  this  knotty  (lueslion  with  a  vij>- 
orous  hand.  Some  extracts  from  it  will  not,  I  deem  it,  he 
considered  out  of  [)lju'e,  and  will  serve  to  show  his  trenchant 
style  :  — 

"In  re|)ly  to  your  hotter  of  the  31st  com])lainin<;  of  the 
non-i)ayment  of  fi'es  demanded  by  you  for  Catholic  inter- 
ments, .  .  .  and  reijucstinii:  me  to  give  instructions  to 
my  sexton  to  receive  for  the  future  the  stipend  demanded, 
I  bey;  to  inform  you  that  I  have  nothing  whatever  to  do  in 
the  reirulations  or  concerns  of  that  churchyard,  unless  to 
perform  my  duties  as  a  cler<ryman  whenever  called  there; 
and  as  to  the  firave-diiiu'cr,  he  iiev(U'  received  any  instructions 
from  me,  except  to  jioint  out  a  vacant  spot  for  the  interment 
of  a  pauper,  and  then  I  felt  bound  to  pay  him  for  di<iuing 
the  grave,  or  to  get  some  of  the  neighbors  or  friends  of  tho 
deceased  to  perform  the  charitable  act. 

"Although  1  would  I'egret  sincerely  that  any  failure  should 
take  place  in  your  fees,  and  as  sincerely  de})lore  that  any 
unhandsome  or  unjustiliable  infringement  should  be  made 
on  the  just  emoluments  of  any  minister  of  religion  for  whom 
I  entertain  so  high  a  regard,  I  must  now  candidiv  acknowl- 
edge  to  you  what  I  have  never  had  the  o))portunity  of  doing 
before,  that  T  consider  it  the  most  penal  act  of  injustice  that 
[1  upon  any  denomination  of  Christians  toconi- 


coui 


t 


ip 


OF   NKVVFOUNDLANI). 


268 


:m 


|)ol  llicin  (()  p.'iy  to  n  clorfryiiinn  of  u  dillercnt  pcrsiiasion  ii  ft'o 
for  till'  iiilcniuMit  of  llicir  dciid.  ...  1  ani  sure  you 
are  satislii'd  to  ii('kii()\vled<.'(!  that  wore  the  Catliolic  tlio  ostab- 
lislicd  rcliiiion  of  tliis  ooiiiitrv,  you  would  deem  i)  the  most 
;j,alliii<x  act  to  roinpcl  your  (locU  to  })ay  a  \\h\  foi-  !>«'vviccs 
wliicli  would  Jiot,  aud  could  not,  lie  jx'iloiiucd  hy  her  luiii- 
Ister.s.  .  .  .  Should  you  estahli.sh  your  claim  l)y  a  Icjial 
process,  it  would  he  the  bouuden  duty  of  the  Catholic 
priest,  in  the  tirst  place,  to  recommend  patience  and  for- 
bearance to  his  pe()|)l(!,  and  next,  by  every  leual  means,  to 
raise  his  voice,  with  that  of  his  (lock,  in  petilioniiii;  a  repeal 
of  so  obnoxious  a  burl  hen.  .  .  .  And  howcncr  the 
scale  may  turn,  it  shall  never,  I  ho))e,  break  one  link  of 
that  chain  of  all'ectioii  aud  regard  which  always  bound  us 
together." 


Soon  after  his  consecration  he  couunenced  his  epi^H'opal 
duties  by  visiting  ("onceiition  liay,  and  while  ilwAw  vivj:',vj:vd 
he  was  suumuined,  in  May,  \H'M),  to  attend  the  d((ath-bed  of 
his  ))redecesHor,  aud  to  assume  the  comi)Icto  governmei  t  of 
the  ^'icariate. 

The  tirst  work  he  turned  his  mind  to  was  the  augnu'uta- 
tion  of  the  number  of  priests  and  the  subdivision  of  the  lisc 
districts  which  then  existed  in  the  country.  The  numlier  of 
})ricsts  in  the  diocese  at  this  tinu'  was  only  seven,  of  whom 
one  (Fr.  Yore)  was  then  in  his  eighty-second  year.  Fr. 
Ilearn,  of  IMacentia,  was  atllicted  with  a  mental  malady. 
Fr.  IJrown,  of  Ferryland,  was  not  very  satisfactory.  "The 
curate  of  St.  John's  (Fr.  ^Morrison)  was  in  tlui  last  stage  of 
consumption"  (he  died  in  \^'.)\  ).  So  that  there  were  only 
three  active  missionaries  to  be  relied  on.  These  were  Fathers 
Nicholas  Devereux,  1).  .Makiu,  and  1*.  Cleary  (afterwards 
Dean). 

Dr.  Fleming,  therefore,  set  out  in  the  fall  of  \^'M)  for 
Ir(>land  in  seai'ch  of  missionaries.  He  secured  nine,  of  whom 
six  eml)ark(!d  without  delay,  and  arrived  in  Newfoundland 
curly  in  1831. 


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Photographic 

Sciences 
Corporation 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

(716)  872-4503 


'<^  A. 


i?- 


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W     1 


2fi4 


ECCLESIASTICAL   IIISTOKY 


These  niissioners  also  deserve  a  brief  hiograpliieal  notice 
in  a  work  like  the  jjresent.  Tiiey  were  not  onl}'  pillars 
of  the  Catholic  Church,  hut  men  of  name  and  fame, 
worthy  of  a  place  in  the  general  history  of  Newfoundland. 
They  were  tlu;  ])rincii)al  actors  on  the  stage  who  helped  in 
no  small  measure  to  bring  about  the  state  of  i)olitical  pros- 
perity and  advar-jnient  which  we  now  enjoy. 

Firtit,  then,  was  the  Rev.  Edward  Troy.  He  was  a 
prominent  ligure  for  many  yeais  in  our  ecclesiastical  annals. 
He  was  a  man,  physically  and  mentally,  a  giant,  lie  was 
the  confidant  and  riuht-hand  man  of  Dr.  Fleminu'  duriiiir  all 
his  troubles  and  contests  for  religious  liberty  and  ft)r  the  rights 
of  Catholics.  He  was  the  great  crusader  in  the  matter  of 
ensuring  the  observance  of  the  sanctity  of  the  Sunday  i  the 
l)utting  an  end  to  "Sunday  work,"'  which  was  then  exacted 
from  Catholics  by  their  tyrannical  miircantile  masters,  a 
struggle  w  hich  lasted  tive  years  ;  the  toning  up  of  Catholic 
tV'cling  on  the  matter  of  attending  Protestant  functions;  in 
the  allairof  the  dismissal  of  .ludge  Ijoulton  for  partiality  and 
reliuit)us  bias.  In  all  the  political  elections  for  manv  vears, 
the  name  of  Father  Troy  was  respected  and  feared.  He  was 
a  veritable  iiiaUeits  lieretkorHm,  and  yet,  withal,  he  was  a 
man  of  the  gentlest  disposition  when  not  aroused  by  religious 
zeal,  and  was  beloved  even  !)y  those  who  feared  him.  A  m:ui 
of  this  uncompromising  character  was  sure,  however,  to  make 
enemies  among  those  for  whose  abuses  and  tei)idity  he  had 
no  mercy.  Hence  a  party  among  the  Catholics  of  the  time 
formed  themselves  into  a  sort  of  l(>ague  in  opposition  to  Dr. 
Fleming  and  Fr.  Troy.  These  were  the  rei)resentatives  of 
the  men  who  followed  the  more  conciliatory  system  ap[)rove(l 
of  by  Dr.  Scallan,  but  against  wliiiih  Dr.  Fleming,  from  the 
very  outsi't,  waged  unrelenting  war.  These  troulilous  times 
liave  now  passed  away,  and  not  even  a  vestige  of  these  fac- 
tions remains,  and  it  would  be  im[)rud('nt  to  recall  them  to 
memory.  We  shall,  therefore,  pass  them  over  with  this 
mere  mention,  as  a  history  of  the  Church  in'  Newfoundland 


OF   NEWFOUNDLAND. 


265 


I 


would  1)0  incomplete  if  it  oinittetl  all  allusion  to  an  organiza- 
tion wliiih  played  sueli  an  important  i)art  in  it.  Dr.  Flem- 
ing, in  his  letter  to  Propaganda,  speaks  of  Father  Troy  as 
"a  jni.ssionary  than  whom  this  country  has  never  seen  one 
more  zealous,  or  more  ardently  devoted  to  the  duties  of  his 
sacred  calling."  Nevertheless,  the  party  of  oi)position  left 
no  means  mitried  to  have  him  removed  from  tlu(  country. 
They  sent  a  list  of  complaints  against  him  and  the  liishop 
to  the  .Secretary  of  Slate  fpr  the  Colonics.  They,  by  false 
representations,  secured  the  intluence  of  "high  ecclesiastical 
dignitaries '' in  London,  and  at  length  succeeded  in  gaining 
the  ear  of  tiie  authorities  at  Rome,  where  this  venerablo 
clergyman  was  maligned  as  "the  turbulent  priest  Troy," 
and  the  I)isho|)  was  ordered  to  remove  him  from  the  Island.' 
Not  willing  to  disobey  so  peremi)tory  a  connnand,  but,  at 
the  same  time,  knowing  that  it  oidy  required  the  mere  state- 
ment of  the  truth  at  Koine  to  have  the  censure  removed, 
Dr.  Fleming,  by  a  i)rudent  subterfuge,  removed  Father  Troy 
from  the  Island  of  Newfoundland  by  placing  him  on  the 
Island  of  J/crdc/i/'eii,  in  I'laci-ntia  J>ay.  Here  he  ( iirried  on 
the  work  of  the  Mission,  and  built  a  church  and  I'resbylery. 
From  this  he  was  subse(|uently  removed  to  Torbay,  where 
he  remained  till  his  di'ath,  in  1(^72.  If  wc  are  to  judge  of 
the  missioner  by  the  result  of  his  labors,  wi'  nuist  look  u|)ou 
Father  Troy  as  a  truly  apostolic  man.  He  built  the  churches 
at  I'ortugal  Vo\o  and  Torbay,  bringing  the  nails  in  bags 
ui)on  his  back  from  St.  .John's,  a  distance  of  eight  or  ten 
miles,  and  at  a  time  when  tlu  re  were  no  roads.  He  replaced 
the  old  wood(Mi  chapel  of  Torbay  l)y  the  splendid  stone  edi- 
lice  now  (>.\is»ing,  ami  in  the  spiritual  life  his  coiKpiests  were 


'  It  was  litil  iiiorcly  tlii'  ii'iiioviilof  Fiitlicr  Troy,  but  of  the  Hishnp  hiimclf,  tliiit  was 
soiifrlil ;  mill  .so  far  did  tlu'  iii;iiliiiiiitioiis  go,  tliat  it  is  said  tliat  tlio  Austrian  Minister  at 
Honii' was  dircclcil  or  rt'i|m'^li'cl  by  tlio  Ibilisl.  'ovi-riunont,  at  thi;  insianco  of  tlio 
t'oionial  OHico  in  London,  to  cniU'avor  to  |Md<Mirf  llio  rcnioval  of  tiiu  lii-liop  from 
Ni'wI'oiindland.  Tbc  nncia^in;;'  diatiMbi's  a^iainsl  him  ap|icaiinLr  ilaily  in  the  press  of 
Nc'wtoinidhind  lie  treated  willi  silent  eontempl,  bnt  thi!  eliar^ics  bron^'ht  aiiainst  liini 
in  lionie,  and  injndieionsly  I'orwardeil  by  liie  N'iear  Apostolie  of  London,  were  most 
eallin;;  to  a  man  who  was  in  reality  saerifieinj;  himself  in  the  interests  of  religion, 
and  he  euninients  bitterly  on  it  in  bis  "Ii'e/aiione." 


266 


ECCLESIASTICAL  IllSTOllY 


not  less  numerous.  lie  converted  to  the  Catholic  fold  almost 
the  entire  district  of  Torbay.  So  it  might  he  said  of  him, 
as  we  read  of  St.  Gregory  Thaumaturgus,  Bishop  of  Neo- 
cjesanva.  This  holy  Bishop  asking,  on  his  death-bed,  how 
many  infidels  were  left  in  the  city,  was  answered,  "  Seven- 
teen."—  "  Only  so  many,"  he  replied,  giving  thanks  to  God, 
"were  there  of  the  faithful  when  I  came  first." 

Seco)id.  Among  these  missionaries  was  the  Rev.  Pela- 
gius  Nowliin,  who  ciime  out  in  flie  year  1(S81.  He  was 
placed  at  Little  Placentia,  where  he  remained  during  his 
long  missionary  career  of  nearly  forty  years.  He  died  in 
1871,  aged  eighty  years.  Dr.  Fleming,  iu  his  account  of 
his  visitation  of  l<So2,  says  :  "On  Monday,  23d  (of  August) 
we  got  into  Little  Placentia,  .  .  .  where  we 
had  the  pleasure  of  meeting  the  Kev.  Mr.  Xowlan,  who  had 
been  lately  ai)p()inted  to  that  district,  and  it  aflbrdiMl  me  the 
sincerest  satisfaction  to  find  that  both  here  and  iu  (Jreat  Pla- 
centia his  congregation  were  loud  in  praise  of  his  exertions 
to  afford  them  the  comforts  of  religion." 

Third.  Fr.  Charles  Dalton,  O.vS.F.  He  was  placed  in 
Harbor  Grace,  where  he  labored  tor  thirty  years,  till  18(51. 
The  old  wooden  chapel,  with  a  tower  one  hundred  fe(!t  high, 
erected  I>y  Fr.  Yore,  was  pulled  down,  and  a  new  one  of 
stone  erected  by  Fr.  Dalton,  who  also  built  the  jnx'sbytery. 
The  present  cathedral  is  formed  of  this  church,  with  the  addi- 
tion of  apse,  transepts,  and  dome,  erected  under  the  episco- 
pacy of  Dr.  Dalton,  first  Bishop  of  Ilarbcn-  (trace,  nephew  of 
Fr.  Charles  Dalton.  The  work  of  completion  advanced  l)ut 
slowly  under  the  troubled  episcopacy  of  Dr.  Carfagnini,  but 
was  speedily  jjushed  on  by  the  present  energetic  Bishop,  Dr. 
McDonald,  who  had  a  solemn  o[)ening  of  the  building  in 
1885.     Fr.  DiiltoM  also  erected  the  church  in  Carbineers'. 

Fourth.  Fr.  Keillv,  who  did  not  remain  long  on  the  ^lis- 
sion.     He  died  in  Ireland. 

Fifth.  Fr.  Edward  Murphy,  who  died  in  St.  John's  the 
following  year,  18o2. 

Sixtli.     Fr.  Michael  Berney,  who  survived  until  the  pres- 


'    '.* 


1 


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II. 


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i.l    I  : 


l« 


OF   NEWFOUNDLAND. 


267 


ent  year  (188')).  lie  died  at  Burin.  During  the  past  twenty 
years  he  had  done  no  aetivc  duty,  having  been  paralyzed  in 
the  riglit  side,  the  result  of  exposure  to  severe  and  wet 
weather  during  his  missionary  tours.  Lest  there  might  be 
any  dissatisfaction  among  the  clergy  at  the  division  of  tiieir 
parishes,  lie  began  by  showing  the  good  example  in  his  own 
district.  He  separated  Bay  Bulls,  and  placed  there  the  young 
pi'iest,  Fr.  Patrick  Cleary,  who  had  come  out  in  1S21),  and 
who  had  been  placed  first  at  King's  Cove,  as  curate  to  Fr. 
Devereux. 

Fr.  Cleary,  of  late  years  familiarly  known  as  "The  Dean," 
was  another  of  those  noble  men  who  have  impressed  their 
names  in  the  memory  of  more  than  one  generation.  To  him 
was  vouchsafed  that  boon,  not  very  usual,  of  eelel)ratiiiir  the 
"golden  jubilee,"  or  fiftieth  year  of  priesthood,  and  during 
that  half-century,  and  more,  he  labored  with  untiring  zeal 
among  his  faitliful  peoi)le.  Though  small  of  stature,  he  ^\as 
a  man  of  iron  physi<jue  and  great  strength  of  mind,  and  up 
to  a  few  years  before  his  death  he  vied  in  activity  and  energy 
with  the  youngest  curate  in  the  country.  To  his  zeal  and 
noble  j)riest]y  virtues,  the  parish  of  Bay  Bulls,  or  Whittles' 
Bay,  owes  it  that  it  may  be  classed  as  the  most  thoroughly 
Catholic  district  in  the  Island.  To  him  it  owes  all  that  it 
possesses  of  advantage,  both  temporal  and  spiritual, — not 
only  schools,  convents,  and  churches,  but  also  the  finest 
roads  and  bridges,  wharves,  etc.,  in  all  Newfoundland.  In 
those  days  it  was  not  enough  that  a  priest  should  look  to  the 
spiritual  advancement  of  his  ix'ople,  but  on  him  also  devolved, 
in  a  ii'rrat  measure,  the  administration  of  all  (iovernment 
grants,  and  everything  concerning  the  teni[)oral  welfare  of 
the  peoi)le.' 


1  One  of  the  parisliioncr*,  laiuciitiiif;  Uic  dcatli  of  the  jrood  old  Deiiii,  was  hearil  to 
lemiivk,  "  A'!(l  why  shouUhi'l  wi:  miss  hiui  ?  Sure,  he  Imrned  us,  au' christened  us, 
an'  uiai  rid  us,  an'  herrid  us  all,  fur  de  last  lifty  years  !  " 

The  Deau  died  on  the  21st  Oetoher,  IHH'i,  in  the  fifty-third  year  of  his  pii<'stliood, 
;vnd  the  eijihly-scvonth  of  his  a;j:e,  after  a  noble  and  virtuous  life.  He  was  horn  in 
Wexford,  in  tlie  parisli  of  Bannon,  in  the  year  17i'0.     He  made  his  preparatory  studies 


■  ! 


208 


ECCLESIASTICAL    HISTORY 


IVsidos  lliiis  c'lirtailiiiir  (he  district  ot"  St,  John's  l)y  sop- 
iii'iitiiiif  tVoiii  it  tlu*  portion  wiiii-li  ho  t-alls  Uay  liiiUs  (nnd 
which  was  afterwards  called  Whittles' liay,  as  the  Dean  made 
that  harbor  his  place  of  residence),  Dr.  Fleniiuir  k»'pt  three 
cnrates  in  the  palace  with  himself  to  do  the  work  of  St. 
John's,  which  still  included  Torhay,  Ponch  Cove,  I'ortn- 
ual  {'()vc>,  Topsail,  and  I'etty  IIarl)or.  llarhor  (Irace  was 
divided,  for  the  [jresent,  into  two  districts,  with  live  priests; 
and  ho  declares  his  intention,  on  his  retnrn  from  Ireland 
(18;{7),  to  further  sulxlivide  it  into  five.  Ferryland  was 
also  divided  ;  one  priest  heiiiir  resident  at  Fermenso.  'i'his 
arranii'ement  has  contiinied  until  the  i)resent  day,  with  the 
exce[)tion  that  the  present  eneru'etic  incumbent,  Kev.  fFohn 
AValsh,  has  removed  the  ri'sidence  to  Kogneuse,  where  he 
has  erected  an  eletiant  church,  convent,  jjarochial  house,  and 
schools,  all  situated  on  an  elevated  sitc^  above  the  pictures(]iie 
village,  and  forminii"  <iuite  an  imijosing  grouj)  of  ecclesias- 
tical  buildings. 

Two  additional  ])ri('sts  were  sent  to  Placentia.  making  the 
whole  stalf  consist  of  three,  which,  however,  he  declaivs  by 
no  means  sutiicient  for  so  vast  a  district,  embracing  more 
than  three  huiulred  miles  of  coast  ;  but  the  poverty  of  the 
people,  "a  po[)ulation  of  over  four  thousand,  scattered  along 
tlu!  shore  in  coves  and  harbors,"  would  not  j)ennit  him  to 
iiu'rt'ase  the  luunber ;  and,  linally,  an  additional  priest  was 
placed  at  King's  Cove.     This  gives  a  total  of  sixteen  priests, 

in  his  iiiiliv<' coiintiT,  mill  coiupli'tcd  liis  tliooloiiiciil  cniii'-ii"  :it  tluM'iillcfi'c  (iC  liirclitii'ld. 
llo  was  orilaiin-'d  in  tlio  C'atlicilral  of  Ijiiii^curihy  liy  Dr.  Kcaliii;;,  llj^liopul'  I'oiiis,  on 
Easter  Sunday,  1829,  just  six  days  bei'orp  tlio  ;;ainin;;  ol' Emancipation.  Ho  came  out 
to  Xewfoundland  tlio  followin;;  summer.  After  scrvin;^  some  time  as  curate  in  St. 
.John's,  In;  was  sent  to  Ivinir's  Cove.  lie  told  many  amusin;f  and  interostin<r  anec- 
dotes, sliowinji  llio  wild  state  of  the  nortliein  missions  at  thai  time.  It  was  cnsloin- 
ary  for  clerks,  captains  of  sliips,  or  any  one  sujiposed  to  lio  possessed  of  some  hiniin' 
to  1)0  aslied  to  perform  the  marriage  ceremony.  There  was  a  (piile  notorious  func- 
tionary of  this  sort,  lie  had  heen  a  hedj;e  seliool-maslcr  in  Ireland,  and,  in  conse- 
(piencc  of  his  reputed  knowledffo  of  Latin,  was  in  hvqoX  demand.  ( )n  lioiufi'  (inestionod 
hy  the  Dean  as  to  how  ho  perl'Muieil  the  nuptial  service,  he  answered  :  "  Well,  ycr 
reverence,  I  ;iivo  'cm  all  the  Latin  1  have,  an'  that's  the  A'  J'mfiiii(/i,i  "  .' 

The  Dean's  faitliful  successors,  Ucvs.  X.  IJoche  and  M.  O'Driscoll,  have  creitcil  to 
his  memory,  in  Whittles'  Hay,  an  eleyant  munuinent  in  the  form  of  a  Keltic  cross,  of 
Irish  uranitc. 


Tt 


01-'   NEWFOUNDLAND. 


269 


l»L'f.i(l('s  tlio  i}isli()|).     lUit  Iho  "  Jieluzione  "  from  which  those 
IKirticulars  arc  takcu  was  written  in  18;J7. 

Dr.  Flcniinu:,  on  the  occasion  of  his  visit  to  Ireland  in 
l.SIU),  to  procnrc  priests,  went  over  to  London  and  |)rescnted 
a  nieniorial  to  His  Ahiji'sty's  Government  on  the  sul>jcct  of 
Catholii  eniani'ii)ation  as  concernin;^'  Newfoundland,  ^^'e 
have  ah'cady  mentioned  that  the  autlioritios  in  Newfoundland 
not  oidy  i)rosumed  that  the  penal  laws  of  Ireland  applied  to 
this  colony,  but,  even  with  stranjLTe  perverseness,  refusi'd  to 
acknowledirc  that  the  eU'eets  of  the  Catholic  emancipation, 
•rained  the  priivious  year  by  O'Connell,  slmuld  l>e  extended 
to  this  country. 

I)r.  Fleminu's  memorial  was  graciously  received,  and  he 
obtained  iin  order  by  which  it  was  declared  that  f/ic  jienal 
hiirs  (lid  not  (ijferl  Ni'n-foundhi iid.  This  ))ro()f  of  the  grow- 
inir  iiilhicnce  of  the  Catholic  Bishop  filled  his  fanatic  o})i)o- 
nents  with  alarm. 

That  Dr.  Flcminu'  took  an  at'tive  interest  in  the  <rreat 
struirgle  of  the  Irish  people  for  reliiiious  freedom,  under 
O'Connell,  would  be  only  natural  to  suppose.  That  he 
would  be  abit',  in  any  practical  way,  to  help  on  the  move- 
ment, we  might  not,  i)eilia[)s,  expect,  considering  the  \w\- 
erty  of  his  Mission,  and  the  great  works  he  had  undertaken  ; 
vet  the  draft  of  a  letter  still  extant  shows  that  even  out  of 
the  richness  of  his  poverty  he  was  able,  with  the  "subscri|)- 
tions  of  a  IV'W  Irishmen,  and  friends  of  Irishmen,  in  this 
transatlantic  colony,"  to  forward  to  the  "O'Connell  trib- 
ute" the  very  respectable  sum  of  £117  sterling. 

In  anotlu'r  lett(>r,  without  dat(^  or  address,  iie  speaks  of  the 
O'Connell  tribute  as  "a  sacred  fund,  consecrated  by  Irishmen 
to  national  gratitude."  and  says  that  every  year  since  its 
institution  he  fell  increased  satisfaction  at  contributing  his 
mite  towai'ds  it.  "as  a  small  testiujony  of  my  estimation 
of  the  great  advantages  won  for  my  country  l)y  Mr.  O'Connell, 
and  of  his  extraordinaiy  sacrilices  iu  her  cause,  and  his  un- 
remitting exertions  to  ameliorate  the  condition  of  her  ])eo]ile." 
He  then  goes  on  to  complain  that  while  Ireland  enjoys  tran- 


i! 


Ill 


270 


ECCLKSIASTICAL   IIISTOHY 


quillity,  in  NcwfomuUiiiul  it  is  (|iiit('  tlio  vovorso,  "tlir()U<;h 
some  uii:icc'oimtal>l('  Mini  l»lii:liliiiir  iiillticnci'."'  IIo  asks  to 
have  his  iiaiiio  enrolled  anionji;  "  my  ohl  and  eherished  tViends, 
tile  exeellent  people  of  Carriek-on-Snir,  and  at  the  same  time 
to  i)laee  thereon  the  names  of  several  of  the  elerjrymen  who 
desire  to  parlicijiate  in  the  pleasure  of  thus  expressin<j^  their 
respect  and  attachment  to  the  father  of  his  conntry  and  tin; 
friend  of  mankind,  ^^r.  O'C'onnell."  They  add  their  sub- 
scriptions to  his.  "  Several  jientlemen,  also,  havinjj:  heard  1 
was  about  to  send  money  to  the  fund,  have  reciuested  of  me  to 
add  t  heir  names,  —  a  I'ccjuest  it  <;i ves  me  <rreat  pleasure  to  eom- 
\)\y  with.  Amon<rst  them  you  will  find  several  mend;ers  of 
our  TiCijislature  and  some  of  our  most  respectr.ble  citizens." 

Thus  we  see  connnenced  that  continued  stream  of  licnerous 
assistance,  sent  forth  almost  each  succeedin<jr  ^ear  I>y  the 
children  of  Ireland  in  the  \ew  World,  to  their  fathers  and 
friends  in  the  old  land.  In  all  their  times  of  hardship,  trial, 
and  need,  and  in  their  lon<;-contimu'd  struirjrle  for  national 
freedom  (which  now  seems  about  to  dawn  on  them),  New- 
foundland, as  we  shall  see,  has  never  been  backward  in  this 
noble  work,  ^^'henever  a  call  has  be(;n  made  upon  her, 
whether  to  relieve  distress,  to  help  on  the  struirii:le  for  eman- 
cipation and  freedom,  or  for  the  buildin<;  of  churches  and 
schools,  even  down  to  the  latest  movement,  "the  J'arneli 
fund,"  her  children  have  ever  been  ready,  with  hand  and 
purse,  to  help  the  land  of  their  forefathers,  in  love  and  ven- 
eration, for  which  they  yield  not  to  any  nation  that  has  been 
planted  b\'  her  emiirrant  sons  across  the  seas. 

I'he  uncomi)r()misiiig  severity  with  which  Dr.  Fleming 
treated  tepidity  or  laxiuiss  amonj;  Catholics,  as  well  as  the 
determined  opi)osition  ho  showed  to  their  temporizing  with 
those  outside  the  Church  in  all  religious  or  sacred  services, 
might  i)ossil)ly  be  thought  by  some  to  proceed  from  fanatii-ism 
or  sectj>.ian  bigotry.  But  read  in  the  light  thrown  upon  his 
character,  by  his  acts  of  noble  generosity,  such  a  judgment 
cannot  be  justly  formed.  On  the  contrary,  that  untlinching 
conservatism  must  be  admitted  to  spring  from  the   highest 


^L 


OF   NEWFOINDLAN'I). 


271 


H(>ns<>  of  honor  and  reli<;ious  principle,  and  camiot  l)ut  com- 
mand respect  and  admiration  evcMi  from  those  who  ditl'cr  from 
him  in  ail  religious  views.  While  ho  despised  the  Catholic 
who,  thronjih  a  crin<rin<i^  de>ir(>  to  please  his  Protestant 
friends,  placed  his  reli^iions  principles  underfoot;  on  the 
other  hand,  he  had  a  sincere  respect  and  feeling  of  friendshi[) 
for  the  honest  professor  of  a  rcli«:i()u.s  creed  different  iVom 
his  own.  This  was  shown  in  a  most  remarkal)lc  manner  hy 
the  fact  which  wo  ln^ro  relate.  IIavin<;  piined  for  his  own 
tlock,  after  a  hard  tiu'ht,  the  iuion  of  reliii'ious  lii)erty,  he  did 
not  then  remain  quiet  on  his  oars.  His  senses  of  liiir  play 
and  justice  would  not  j)ermit  him  to  do  so  while  any  of  his 
fellow-Christians  were  sullerinj;  under  injustice;. 

I'p  to  this  time  the  Church  of  Kn«,dand  in  Newfoundland 
had  assmned  to  itself,  thouiih  without  any  legal  authority,  all 
the  rights  of  a  domineering  estahlishment.  As  already  re- 
marked, a  most  unjust  tax  was  extorted  from  the  Roman 
Catholics  on  occasions  of  births,  marriag(>s,  and  fimerals. 
Rut  a  tyranny  of  a.  still  more  galling  kind  was  exercised 
against  all  ditisentlnijhodk'fi,  inasnmch  as  they  were  altogether 
dei)rived  (even  by  jjaying  a  tax)  of  the  right  to  perform  their 
own  religious  ceremonies. 

Dr.  Fleming,  seeding  the  very  great  injustice  of  this  law, 
drew  up  a  j)etition  on  this  subject,  and  had  it  j)resenled  by 
Mr.  John  Kent,  in  the  very  tirst  session  of  our  newly-ac(iuired 
local  Legislature,  on  Wednesday,  Jan.  oO,  1833,  which 
had  the  desired  etlect.  Ilence  to  this  strong-minded  Prelate, 
who  was  accused  by  some  of  bigotry,  l)ccausc  he  strenuously 
forbade  his  own  tlock  attending  Protestant  worship,  the  Wes- 
leyan  body  owe  the  status  and  recognition  which  they  to-day 
enjoy  in  Newfoundland.  It  is  ditlicult  to  get  nuMi  of  the 
world's  way  of  thinking  to  see  the  correctness  and  truth  of 
the  princii)les  of  the  Catholic  Churcii,  which,  while  she  allows 
and  desires  j)erfect  liberty  for  all  those  outside  her  fold,  will 
sutfer  no  tampering  on  the  part  of  her  own  children  with  tli(5 
sacred  deposit  of  Faith,  of  which  she  is  the  divinely-appointed 
ijuardian. 


% 


a; 


T 


272 


ECCLESIASTICAL   IIISTOIJY 


Till'  petition,  thoiiijh  lon<;tliy,  I  pi-odtico  horo,  ns  it  in  ouo. 
of  tlic  noMcst  (locimionts  to  lio  t'ound  in  the  iiiuials  of  our 
history,  .'iiid  will  viiidicato  for  all  time  to  conu!  tlio  cliaractor 
«>f  this  {jrcat  Piclatc,  and  <j:ain  for  his  nicniorv  a  tril)uto  ot 
rt'spoct  from  all  classes  and  denominations  of  citizens  :  — 

"A  petition  from  the  Riirht  Reverend  ^liehael  Anthony 
Fleminir,  D.I).,  prelate  of  tlu!  Catholic  connnunion  of  N'(>\v- 
foundland,  was  presented  hy  Mr.  Kent,  and  read,  settinj^ 
forth  — 

"That  the  petitioner  humltly  l)(\<rs  leave  to  solicit  in  the 
most  respectful  manner  the  favorable  attention  of  the  House 
to  the  painful  condition  to  which  a  larire  and  resj)eetahl((  por- 
tion of  fellow-Christians,  the  Dissenters  of  this  countiy,  are 
suhjecled  hy  a  clause  respectinjr  the  celebration  of  marriaires, 
as  contained  in  an  act  intituled,  'An  act  to  rei)eal  an  act  to 
reiiulale  the  ceU'bration  of  marriaires  iu  Newfoundland,'  which 
compels  the  Dissenters  of  this  country  to  solemni/.e  their  mar- 
riajics  accordiiiL^  to  the  ceremonies  of  anotiu'r  Church,  and  by 
a  eler^fvman  of  a  dill'erent  establishment. 

"That  the  petitioner,  while  hedisdaims  any  idea  of  dictatinj; 
to  the  House,  hopes  that  it  will  not  be  (U'emed  i)resumj)tuous 
in  him  to  ex|)ress  his  (h'cided  opinion  'that  a  conciliatory 
system  of  policy  towards  all  classes  of  people  is,  under 
Providence,  the  best  and  surest  sujjport  of  every  i^overmnent, 
and  that  in  a  free  government,  like  our  own,  nothinif  but  a 
necessary  retrard  to  the  safety  of  the  Constitution  can  justify 
the  enactment  of  any  hiws  of  a  restrictive  nature,  especial!}' 
on  matters  of  rcliuion.'  Wherefore,  when  the  loyal,  peace- 
aide,  and  pious  deportment  of  the  Dissenters  of  this  country 
is  constantly  demonstrated,  the  jjetitioner  relies  with  conli- 
dence  on  the  justice  and  lil)erality  of  the  House,  that 
the  unmerited  stiirma  which  has  been  iini)ressed  on  so 
meritorious  a  body  hy  so  umiecessary  a  law  will  be  re- 
moved. 

"  Vour  [x'titioner  humbly  submits  that,  with  respect  to  mar- 


^1. 


'iTITlllliHI 


T 


OF   NKWEOUNDLAND. 


27;5 


u>  ► 


ri!i<ro  (unless  as  a  civil  coiitracl),  the  Slato  should  liavo  no 
couccru,  as  each  rciiiiious  sect  ou<>lit  to  I)c  left  as  fully  at 
lilxTty  to  reifulatc  tlio  rcliirious  ccrciuonics  attendant  on  niai'- 
via^'e  as  any  other  part  of  their  ceremonies,  as  tliei-e  can  he 
no  more  icason  for  coinpeliinij:  a  man  to  l»o  Jnarried  hv  a 
clerayiiian  of  an  opjiosite  church  than  for  compellinuf  him  lo 
))articipate  in  the  ordinai'y  servicer  of  that  church  evei-y 
Sunday. 

"Wherefore  tli  ^)etitioner  considers  that  the  parties,  I)ein<r 
of  Dissenters,  or  any  reliii'ioiiisls  seekinir  lo  he  married,  and 
who  ])rofoss  conscientious  molives,  j)rinciples,  ami  riles  in 
oI»jeclion  of  those  practised  and  performed  in  the  I'>pisco- 
l)al,  or  any  other  church,  ouiilit  not  to  he  forced  lo  violale 
their  conscience  ;  and  that  to  force  Ihcm,  under  pains  and 
penalties,  to  l'o  throuiili  a  ceremony  forei<ni  to  their  mind  is 
unjust,  unchristian,  and  intolerant,  and  in  direct  violation  of 
the  fundamental  principles  of  the  Constitution. 

"  The  petitioner  lays  this  view  of  the  case  l)ef()re  the  consid- 
eration of  the  House,  and  also  heirs,  in  the  most  respccll'ul 
manner,  to  say  that  lu^  would  consider  it  a  rctlection  on  tiu' 
int(dlect  and  «rood  feeling  hy  which  the  present  enliiiiilened 
aire  is  distinixuished  were  such  a  law  sullei'ed  louijer  to  exist, 
—  a  law  which  every  enliiihtened  man  ahhors. 

"That  the  petitioner,  deeply  impressed  with  these  s(Miti- 
ments,  and  sensi])le,  from  experience,  of  the  irriev;mcc  of 
heinu'  deharrcd  tin;  hlcssiiiiis  of  civil  and  '■eliiiioiis  liitcrty, 
should  deem  himself  nnworlh}'  of  that  freedom  which,  thanks 
to  a  wise,  paternal  government,  he  now  enjoys,  could  he  for 
a  moment  he  insensihie  to  the  hai'dships  of  his  dissenting 
hrethren,  or  hesitate  to  seek,  hy  every  constitutional  means, 
the  same  share  of  liherty  for  Ihem.  Tin;  ])cliti()ner,  there- 
fore, hunihly  entreats  that  il  will  please;  the  House  in  the 
connnencement  of  its  important  lahors  to  re[)eal  this  unchris- 
tian and  unwise  hiw,  and  to  extend  to  the  Dissenters  ami 
Methodists  of  this  Island  the  privilege  of  soUnnni/ing  mar- 
riages in  their  own  church,  and  hy  a  clergyman  of  their  own 
cstahlishmcnt, —  a  measure  which  will  conciliate  the  affections 


274 


ECCLESIASTICAL  HISTORY 


li 


jiiid  gi'iititudo  of  so  extensive  and  respcctahle  a  portion  of 
His  Majesty's  subjects,  and  also,  by  an  e(iual  participation 
of  reliirious  as  well  as  civil  liberty,  etl'ectually  consolidate, 
in  one  connnon  sentiment  of  warm,  unqualitied  attachment 
to  the  new  institution  of  this  country,  all  classes  of  Chris- 
tians." 


OF   NKWFOUNDLANl). 


275 


CIIAPTKll   XXTT. 


THE  riJKSKNTA'nox  xrxs.  -  [is^n.] 

Tlic  rro«ont;ilion  Xuns— MoIIut  Mimdnlcii's  Xiinntive  —  .Tdunicy  to  Dublin  — 
Wiitcrtoril  —  N'oyajri!  to  NfwI'ciiiiulliinil -- <>]iciiiML'  nf  :iic  ScIhihN  -  - 'I'lic  I'ros- 
mtiilion  ('(iiivci.i  —"Till!  I'iri'  cifKi"  —  Coiivciit  1  )csirinc'il  —  New  Con  vent  uiiil 
SclionN  llicclcd  —  I"ir>t  lli  li-ioiis  Itccciition  —  .Iiibik'o,  18;i;3-;U  -Oilier  Convcut- 
iiiil  i;-l:il'li~liiiifiits  ill  Aiiicrica. 

nA\'IX(i.  in  llic  short  s|);ic(M)I"  tlircc  yciirs,  ])l;u'('(l  tlu*  Mis- 
sion ill  :i  st.-itc  ol'  in.'irkcd  iniprovcnuMit  .'nid  ;i<l\  .•incciiicnt, 
liavinii:  iiinro  ihaii  doubled  the  unmltci'  of  cdcriryiiUMi,  and 
provided  a  |)a>t()i"  for  ovcry  ])Im('('  wlicro  one  could  1)(»  at  all 
supported,  so  that,  although  the  nuiul)er  \vas  not  yet  by  any 
nieiins  adet|uat(!  to  th(>  fast  inereasiuix  population.  y<>t  there 
was  not  Icl't  any  settlement,  however  small,  which  would  not 
have  the  ai'dently  desired  blessiuii'  of  a  \  isit  from  the  priest 
at  least  once  in  the  year,  llavini:'  accomplished  all  this  u,'ri':it 
work  of  ori^aiii/.ation  in  such  an  incredibly  short  s[)ac(>  of 
time,  this  zealous  Predate  now  ])repared  to  set  aliout  the 
a('C()ni[)li>hment  of  what  may  be  considereil  an  eijually 
important  obje(.'t,  if  not  more  so,  namely,  tlu*  foundation 
of  a  convent  and  the  inti'oduction  of  a  I'onimuiiity  of  I'l-esen- 
liilion  nuns.  'I'his  undcrlakiuii'  nmst  certainly  be  looked 
upon  as  the  li'i'oatest  work  of  his  iilorious  episco|)ate,  for 
ihouiih  the  building"  (»f  llic  cathedral  was  a  mighty  and  noble 
act,  and  one  which  strikes  the  eye  mor(>  immediately,  still 
liic  buildiiiii"  up  of  the  moral  temple  in  the  souls  of  his  faith- 
ful children  mii>t  I'aiik  as  a  holierand  noliler  woi'k  before  \\u\ 
(yes  ot'(iod,  ihouiih  not  so  prominent  to  those  of  the  world. 
There  can  be  no  doubt  tlia.t  Dr.  Flemin;^"  himself  also  thought 
this  the  crowninii'  work  of  his  episcopacy,  and  that  he  had 
pon(lere(l  loni;-  and  sei'iously  u[)on  it  even  iVoni  tlu'  very 
luonient  of  liis  elevation,  and  he  frequently  w  rites  of  it  in 


I 


m 


270 


ECCLESIASTICAL   IIISTOUY 


his  letters.  Thus,  in  1  is  letters  to  Dr.  O'Coniiell,  P.P.,  St. 
MieliMel's  and  St.  John's,  Dublin,  after  descrihini;  the  state 
of  education  in  mixed  schools,  he  continues  :  — 


II    i 


"Such  was  the  state  of  thinixs  at  the  period  of  my  acces- 
sion to  the  \'icariatc,  and,  imj)ressed  with  the  strong  teelinus 
of  the  inii)()rtancc  of  sununoninir  to  our  aid  a  proix-r  system 
of  reliiiioiis  education  for  niv  eonixrcufal ion  as  tar  as  niv 
means,  liii'ally  contracted  and  overcharii'ed  as  they  were, 
would  allow,  I  felt  the  necessity  of  withdrawinu'  female  chil- 
dren from  under  the  tutelajre  of  men,  from  the  danu'crous 
associations  which  ordinaiy  school  intercourse  with  the  other 
sex  naturally  exhibited  ;  for  whatevei'  care  coidd  he  a|)[)lic(l 
to  the  culture  of  female  children  in  mixed  schools,  Ihey  nmst 
lose  nmch  of  liiat  delicacy  of  feeiin<>'  and  relinenKMit  of  sen- 
timent which  form  tl:e  ornament  and  u'race  »)f  their  sex. 
Besides,  viewinii'  the  «>reat  intluenci!  that  females  exercise 
over  the  moral  character  of  socii^ty, — the  <:i'cat  and  useful 
and  necessary  intluence  that  th(^  example  and  th(>  conversa- 
tion of  the  mother  has  in  the  formation  of  the  character  of 
her  children,  as  well  male  as  female,  —  1  Judiicd  it  of  essen- 
tial imjiortance  to  lix  the  character  of  the  female  ])ortion  of 
our  conununity  in  virtue  and  innocence,  by  training!'  them  in 
particular  in  the  wavs  af  inte<rritv  and  moralitv  ;  bv  aH'ordiu"' 
thenj  tlu!  very  best  opiiortunities  of  havinu;  their  reliuious 
principles  wi  il  Ii\ed ;  by  impartinii"  to  them,  while  their 
youuii:  minds  were  dailv  receiviiiii  the  elenumts  of  a  ":cneral 
and  useful  education,  a  course  of  religious  instruction  that 
should  teach  them  the  true  value  and  the  proi)er  use  of  those 
mental  treasures  by  which  they  were  bein*;'  enrich(>d  ;  for  I 
felt  that  which  all  nmst  feel,  namely,  that  when  once  the 
futuie  mothers  arc  imi)ressed  with  the  truths  of  religion, 
once  they  are  solidly  instructed  in  the  divine  pri'cepts  of  the 
(lospel,  once  their  younic  minds  are  enlari^'cd  and  enlight- 
ened and  strenii'thcned  by  educational  knowledti'e,  —  the 
domestic;  lireside  is  innnediately  made  the  most  ))owerful 
auxiliary  to  the   school,  and  instruction  an;l  true  education, 


OF  NKWFOUNDLAND. 


277 


tho  l)a.sis  of  wliicli  is  virtue  and  rcliiiion,  are  instilled  into 
the  lilllo  ones  at  their  niotlier's  i^nee,  and  they  tjo  abroad,  by 
and  by,  into  school,  or  inlo  soeiely,  with  all  the  elements  that 
tit  them  to  1)ecom(i  virtuous  citizens. 

"These  feelini^s  and  opinions  wen;  the  motives  that  led 
mc  to  consider  tho  ostaI)lishment  of  a  Presentation  convent 
essential  to  the  permanent  success  of  tlu;  ^lission." 

Airain,  in  h's  " Itch izi one'''  to  Propairanda,  he  dwells 
warmly  upon  this  subject,  and  jjarlicularly  on  the  state  of 
society  at  the  time,  which  rendered  il  of  |)aramount  necessity 
that  a  complete  separation  of  the  sexes  should  be  observed 
in  the  schools.  '  The  Ixtys,"  he  says,  "  at  a  very  tender  ai>(! 
are  employed  in  some  way  or  other  about  the  fishery,  in 
order  to  earn  as  much  as  will  support  themselves  anc'  render 
them  almost  altoii'cther  indei)endent  of  their  parents  The 
conseciuence  is,  that,  free  from  every  domestic  restraint,  they 
are  much  ex})osed  to  tlu;  temptation  Ot  drink  nini,  ir/iich, 
accovduKj  to  ciisfoni,  is  scrvca  out  to  tlieni  ri'fiidarh/  three  times 
addi/.'^  Things  beiui:'  so,  and  beiuir  animated  with  thes(^ 
sentiments,  .  .  .  not  •  ithstandin^-  the  subdivision  of 
my  district,  and  the  conseciuent  diminution  of  my  income; 
notwithstanding  the  ditliculty  of  sustaininii'  three  priests  in 
n  district  so  narrowed  ;  notwithstandini:"  the  jrreat  expense  I 
underwent  in  bringini:;  out  so  many  ])riests  ;  notwithstand- 
iuii",  1  say,  all  this,  conlidint;  in  the  benevolence  of  my  peo- 
})le,  and  still  more  in  tlu^  i)rovidence  ot"  that  (iod  who  takes 
care  of  the  welfare  of  his  own  little  ones,  T  took  my  deter- 
mination of  introdueini^  a  convent  of  Presentation  nuu.^, 
and  au'ain,  in  l^'.VA,  I  crossed  the  Atlantic  and  secured  a 
small  connnunity  of  that  Order,  to  ct)me  out  to  educate  our 
poor  little  girls." 


'  Tills  cxti'iiorilinnry  ciistom  —  ii  remnant,  no  douht,  ol"  the  times  of  the  ohl  fishing 
aihnu'iils,  who  serveil  out  the  '^voa  ui'cov(lin;f  to  iiiiviil  iv^fiihitioiis  —  was  in  vo;,'ue  until 
very  hito  j-ears  on  most  of  our  larffe  mercanlile  premises,  ami  is  to  tlie  present  t\ny 
eontiimeil  on  some  of  tlie  o((l  Kn^rlisli  and  Jersey  houses.  Kvory  "hand,"  boy  or 
man,  liad  iiis  brown  jii!,',  with  yellow  stripe  ronnd  tho  middle,  ealled  "  a  yallow-belly," 
and  when  the  time  for  the  "  mornin',"  the  "eleven  o'cloeker,"  and  the  "eveiiin"' 
arrived  he  approaelied  the  rnm-ptinehcon,  and,  drawin"  'ho  spile,  filled  his  "yallow- 
belly." 


j 


278 


ECCLESIASTICAL   IHSTORY 


Dn'ollinuT  auiiin  on  this  subjoct,  in  Iiis  IctUr  to  Dr.  Sprnlt 
ho  sMVs  :  "  ^'ou  will  s.'iy,  jx'i'lKips,  tliiit  with  nil  Uu'so 
(Mnbarnissnicnts  IIkm'c  ■\v;is  sonic  (IciiTcc  of  imprudence  in 
clmririiiiT  niyseir  with  tlui  support  ot"  sin  cstublislinient  so 
wciiihtv.  To  this  1  ciui  only  reply,  tliiit  so  slroniily  was  I 
impressed  with  Its  noccs.-rity,  thiit  thert:  is  no  sMcrilic(>  that 
I  would  not  make  ior  its  acfomplishmcnt  and  to  cMisurc  its 
alaltility.  I  did  lay  asid(>  many  comforts  that  I  had  Ixmmi 
accustomed  to.  I  was  ohliii'cd  to  reduce  the  nund)er  of  my 
iscrvants,  and  to  content  myself  with  the  service  of  one  n'cneral 
iiervant  and  a  hoy,  and  to  retrench  at  tal)li?  to  such  a  deiirce 
as  to  sidtjet't  myself  to  the  charp'  of  i)arsimony.  I  had  here- 
tofore lieeu  aliie  to  keep  a  pair  of  ijood  horses,  and  what  we 
]iei'(>  call  a  '  carriaj>v.'  I  am  now  forced  to  surrender  the 
latter,  and  liuiit  mv  Ktii<l  to  a  sin::ie  horse." 


The  history  ol"  the  establishment  of  the  l'r(>sentation  mnis 
in  NewfoimdliUid  has  been  very  fidly  reproduced  in  the  ex- 
cellent "  Life  of  Naiio  Naiile,"  by  \\v\  .  Dr.  Hutch,  of  Cloync.' 
The  items  in  Dr.  Hutch's  account  are  taken  chielly  from  an 
ai'ficlc  by  the   present   writer  pul)lisln'd   in  one  of  the   local 


'  Tlu'  Iriinuil  iiiilliiir  <U'votcs  the  jrrcMtci'  imriioii  of  a  cli!i|)lpv  to  tlic  c-*l!il)lisliiii('iit 
and  .spiviul  ni' ihc  Onk'i-  in  Xowioiiiiilliiinl.  lie  will,  liout'vcr,  it  is  to  lio  Imped, 
foi'rifivc  !iii  :uilint  son  of  'JV-rni-XoVii  for  soltiiij;'  liiiii  i'ii;lit  in  one  >l;i'Piiit'nl,  nol 
liioi;riii)hi(';d,  Iml  ^r('ourii|)liic:il.  Tlic  Itcv.  1  )r.  Iliitcli  lur-i-is  in  the  vciy  (•oininoii 
but  oft-coiTccti'd  I'l'foi- of  spi'akinu:  of  Xcwfoundliind  ii-i  u  pl:ice  in  the  "  f:ir  iioi-tli." 
A\'i'  can,  of  ciMii'sc,  in;d<c  >-onu'  idlowiince  for  the  pocticiil  lici'n^e  taUcn  in  llic  inrfaee, 
wliiMV  tlin  iu'('i's>itii's  <if  iin  elcL'iint  antithc-i-i  inako  liiin  speak  of  the  '•  i-lands  of  tlic" 
sonlliern  seas,  where  llie  ovanue  ;;i'oves  perfiinie  the  air  of  An-tralia,  and  the  tropie 
sun  hiirn^  lip  the  soil  of  1  ndia,  .  .  .  a<  Well  as  in  the  lai' north,  wlier' a  mantle  of 
almost  perpelnal  sikpw  covers  the  hills  and  fore-l>  of  N'ewfonndiand.''  'I'he  heanly 
of  the  picture  lielps  ns  to  eomloiie  the  inaccuracy  of  the  ^lalinient.  lint,  llnii,  in  the 
calinei'  moments  of  plain,  simple  narrative  (|).  o(l."i)  he  spi'aks  of  Newfoundlanders  as 
"the  hardy  fishermen  id"  tlu^  north."  1  Iiclt  to  inform  the  I'ev.  Dr.  llntch,  I'irstly, 
that  Ncwfouiidlanil  is  not  covered  willi  an  "ahno-t  |ierpctual  mantle  of  snow."  The 
snow-mantle  u'cncrally  endures  about  four  months  out  of  the  twelve.  Secondly, 
instead  <d'  heiriL;  iu  the  "  far  north,"  a  ^:lanee  at  the  map  will  show  him  that  she  is 
actually  alMuil  ;i(H)  miles  nearer  to  the  c(puit(U'  than  himself.  'J'lic  latitude  of  I'ernioy, 
Ireland  (v/hence  Dr.  Ilulch  writes),  is  ii  little  more  than  ."ii°  X.,  while  St.  .loliu's, 
Newfoun<llanil,  is  cnily -IT'/V  X.,  a  dilfcrence  of  more  than  I'.',  decrees,  (U'  ahout  27.") 
miles.  In  fael,  we  are  situated  evaclly  iu  the  latitude  (d'  X'ersaillcx,  and  the  most 
northerly  poitiou  uf  Xewfonni.lhuul  is  farther  south  than  the  must  southerly  point  ol 
Inland. 


OF   ^'E\VF0L•^■1)LANI). 


2VJ 


newspapers,  on  the  f  uhject  of  llie  Golden  Jubilees  of  brother 
Miiuditlcn,  which  wis  eeleltrated  in  St.  John's  on  the  (Jth  of 
Deceniher,  1N7;).  Smee  that  time  another  din-ach.!  of  years 
has  been  told  otf  on  Time's  rosaiT,  and  the  vcncraltle 
Mother  Ma_<r<hden  siill  survives,  and  had  tlie  honor  ofwit- 
nessinii'  another  jnhik'e,  namely,  that  of  her  arrival,  fifty 
years  a<:o,  on  the  shori's  o\'  Xewfonndland. 

There  are  many  faets  eoneerniiiii"  the  early  history  of  the 
Xewfonndland  foundation  which  are  not  ii'lven  by  Mr.  Hutch, 
us  they  have  never  appeared  in  j)rint,  but  which  will  mo.-t 
appr(/i)riatel3'  find  a  ))lace  in  this  History.  They  have  been 
taken  principally  from  the  v/'ra  voce  ti'stimony  of  ?Jother 
Maifdalen.  This  veneral)le  lady  is  still  in  stronu'  and  hearty 
health,  and  though  for  some  years  past  (lei)rived  of  si<.dit, 
yet  is  in  full  i)ossession  of  all  her  mental  faculties.  8he  is 
a  liviuii"  exam[)Ie  of  a  holy  and  virtuous  life,  t'ull  of  /,(>al  and 
bin'ninii'  with  the  lire  of  divine  love,  so  sti'onii'  that  the 
proverbial  riiiors  of  our  climate,  after  "  lifty  years  midst  the 
winter's  snow  and  the  sunmiei'"s  i^low,"  have  not  l)een  able 
to  (piench  those  buoyant  life-si)rina"s. 

Mother  ]\[aii(lalcn  U'Shauidmessy  was  born  in  (lalway, 
on  the  li'thof  November,  ITIK).  She  is  eonscipient ly  ni)W 
in  hel'  i>,")t]i  year.  She  entered  the  Presentation  convent  in 
that  city  in  1N21,  and  pronounced  the  solenui  vows  in  \S2'.}, 
beii'u-  then  in  her  I'lMli  year.  In  \s:),\,  the  tenth  year  of  her 
reliii'ions  prolession.  she  canni  to  Xewfonndland.  The  con- 
vent in  (lalway  was,  accordini:'  to  her  ret'oUeetion,  a  tine 
building',  situatctl  a  little  outsiile  the  town.  Tlie  connmmity 
consisted  of  ihirty.-three  t-isters.  The  Superioress,  Kev. 
Mother  Mary  dohii.  was  a  mo>t  estimal)le  lady,  then  !M)  years 
old.  She  belonged  to  the  family  of  llie  I'owei's,  of  Silver- 
stream,  County  \\'aterford.  She  had  a  brother  in  the  East 
Indies  who  was  wvy  wealthy,  and  who  allowed  h(!r  a  hand- 
some annual  income. 


i-  ;i 


■'I  well  remember."  says  Mothei'  ^^a<J:dalcn,  "the  morninjr 
of  the  2".»th  of  dune,  IS'.V.\.     A  clergyman  ap[)i'are(l  at  tlu!  eon- 


280 


ECCLESIASTICAL   IlISTOUY 


vent  irato  carrying  a  carpot-hai:'.  lie  said  he  was  an  Ameri- 
can li'slioj),  and  asked  leave  to  celebrate  jNIass.  This  was 
the  Kt.  Kev.  Dr.  Fleniini;:,  IJisho})  of  Newlbundland.  After 
JNIass  he  asked  to  sec  the  schools.  I  was  appointed  to  show 
iiiin  thi'ouiih.  J  was  young  and  smart  then,  you  know,  like  a 
tiy.  1  explained  everything.  ]  supj)ose  I  spoke  a  good  deal. 
lie  was  delighted  with  everything  he  saw,  and  seemed  to  take 
a  i)articular  fancy  to  me.  He  s[)okc  to  me  in  the  most  fervent 
tones  of  the  desolation  of  his  diocese.  II(^  said,  'You  must 
come  out  with  me  to  Xt'wfoundland.  That  is  tlu^  only  way 
you  can  save  yonr  soul;'  and  much  more  to  that  elfect.  I 
told  him  I  thought  I  could  do  no  good  hy  myself.  lie  then 
asked  me  if  I  would  come  jjrovidcd  I  could  get  some  others 
to  accompany  nu*,  and  I  said  I  would.  When  we  returned 
to  till!  conmiunity-room  he  made  his  request  to  the  Kev. 
Mother. 

"  Kev.  Mother  called  all  the  Sisters,  and  })laced  the  matter 
betore  them,  hut  left  it  entirely  to  their  own  choici'.  Dr. 
Fleming  said  :  'If  you  do  not  hke  the  place,  I  will  land  you 
safe  hack  in  this  parlor  again  without  a  ixMuiy  of  expi'use 
to  the  house'  Four  Sisters  immediately  consented  to  go, 
namely,  Si>ters  M.  Magdalen  O'Shaughnessy,  IJiM'nard  Kir- 
wan,  M.  Xaverius  Lynch,  and  Xavici-  .Molony. 

"Dr.  Fleming  then  went  to  obtain  the  consent  of  Dr. 
Browne,  Ilishop  of  (lalway,  who  was  then  away  at  the  sea- 
side, at  a  ]>lace  named  I^'nvilIe.  Di'.  llrowu  immediately 
consented,  and  the  two  IJishops  cann'  next  morning  to  the 
convent.  luunediate  preparations  were  made  for  our  depart- 
ure. The  retreat  was  aiitieipati'd,  and  Dr.  Fleming  left  for 
Dublin  to  arrange  about  our  passage  out  to  the  New  World." 


It  nuist  not  l)e  imagine(l  that  Dr.  Fleming,  in  his  enthu- 
siasm, was  so  carried  away  as  to  forget  the  biisiuess  portion 
of  his  ])roject.  A  letter  from  Dublin,  dated  Adam  and  Kve's 
Chapi'l-house  (the  Franciscan  comnuniity  on  ^leirhants' 
Quay,  Dublin),  July  17,  l(S;5;],to  the  Mother  Superior  shows 
how  anxious  he  was   to   i)rovide  for  the  [)roper  maintenance 


OF   NEWFOUNDLAND. 


281 


and  rouifort  of  tliii  nuns,  and  how,  amidst  a  nmltiiudo  of 
Imsini's.s,  and  .I'niost  ovcrwlielniing  diflicullics,  oven  tho 
.smallest  dotail  did  not  escape  his  att'-ntion.  lie  iirstexcuscs 
himself  for  so  h)n,i!,'  a  di'hy  on  account  of  the  absence  of  Most 
Kev.  Dr.  Murray  from  Dublin,  then  tho  "pres.s  of  duties  con- 
nected with  (he  spiritual  relreat  and  ordination  of  the  joung 
men  who  xolunleered  Ibr  the  North  Americiin  mission,"'  He 
next  states  tiiat  he  had  a  long  conversation  with  his  Grace 
on  the  suliject  of  the  foundation  in  Newfoundland,  and  that 
Di'.  Murray  "  rejoices  and  thanks  God  with  and  for  nii;."  IIo 
then  enters  on  the  question  of  means  :  "£l,r)()0  were  lodged 
in  the  f(Ui(ls  by  my  predecessor  for  (he  benefit  of  the  Mission  ; 
this  sum  I  intend  shall  l)e  appropriated  to  that  special  pur- 
l)()se."  Dr.  .Murray  directed  him  as  to  the  investment  of  the 
money,  and  volunteered  to  become  one  of  its  trustees.  "I 
also  stated  to  his  Grace  my  pledge  to  you  that  1  would  build 
a  suitable  dwelling-house  and  si-hool  without  any  Infringe- 
ment on  this  smn,  and  that  1  would  guara  iteo  £1UU  per 
anmnn  for  tluMr  supijort,  which  annuity  shou d  continue  till 
their  own  funds  would  be  adcMpuite  to  ail  tlu'ir  donuistic 
wants.  l)Ut  when  I  speak  of  £100,  I  nuist  take  li'ave  to 
obser\c  that  when  I  consider  that  these,  my  dearest  sisters, 
are  to  be  my  co()perators  in  (he  works  of  I'cligion,  in  promot- 
ing the  gloiy  of  that  bountiful  Kcdeemer  we  are  destined  to 
serve  and  adore,  they  may  rest  satislied  that  my  most  earnest 
desii'e,  my  most  strenuous  exertions,  will  not  be  wanting  (o 
contribute  not  only  (hat  paltry  sum,  but  all  and  everything 
in  my  power  to  promote  their  ha))j)iness."  He  adds  some 
glowing  words  of  encouragement  to  the  Sisters,  expressing 
his  confidence  in  (iod  and  in  the  generosity  o"  the  good  })eo- 
ple  of  Newfoundland.  "I  have  been  greatly  disappointed," 
he  continues,  ''in  the  vessel  I  had  intended  to  take  passage 
by.  She  arrived  here  on  Saturday,  and  I  find,  on  <'xainin- 
ing  her,  that  she  is  rather  small  to  make  comfortable  acconi- 


'1^: 


'  Those  "  yoiiiiL,'  men"  wore  five  in  iminln'r,  and  liiivc  since  ruifillinl  tlipir  hilpor  and 
p>ni' lo  iTci'ivi'  llii'  I'l'Wiutl  ol' till!  t'ailliliil  liiisliaMdnian.  Tlioy  wei'o  the  Kuvs.  Jici'- 
Uiird  iiiul  Jiimi's  Dull'v,  Mclvcnna,  Ward,  and  ^\'ald^'on. 


282 


ECCLKSFASTICAL  UrSTOUY 


inodalioii  lV)r  llie  liu'iics.  I  i^o  this  cvcniiii;  to  Livci'ijool  to 
fciCL'k  for  :i  <j:ood  vessel,  mid  I  e.v[)eet  to  return  livre  Iiy  Mou- 
ih\  'veiiiiiif.  I  shall  then  know  inon?  nhout  my  movements. 
I  iiiu  ill!  anxiety  to  relnrn  to  (Jalwiiy.  3iy  prayers,  my 
heart,  my  soul,  are  all  employi'd  in  tlu>  eau^e.  11"  these  dear 
Sisters  feel  as  I  do,  and  unite  with  me  in  earnest  in  jtromot- 
i\\<X  tlH>  cause  of  religion,  I  hope,  in  llu>  uku'cv  of  (Jod,  tiial 
our  Ial)ors  w  ill  close  hv  an  everlastiuir"  I'ecomix'iise. 

"  S()licilin<;  your  prayers,  and  those  of  your  commimity,  I 
beii"  to  .'^uhscriho  myself,  with  the  urealest  I'ospect,  your 
much  ohliiiod  and  devoted  humhle  servant, 

+   "MRIIAKL   AXTIIOXY   FLEMING. 


The  Itev.  Mother  re])Iied,  iiivinn'  formal  consent  that  the 
Sisters  should  jzo,  l)ut  stii)ulatini;  that  tlii-y  should  he  sent 
back  should  siu'h  a  coiu'si^  become  necessary. 

Tlu'  follow  inii'  is  a  coi)v  of  the  letter  of  liev.  Motiier  :  — 

"  >ry  DKAU  Loiii),  —  T  recei.cd  your  letter  of  the  17th, 
which  contains  cverythiiiu'  that  vay  greatest  solicitude  foi-  the 
ha])piuess  of  my  (U'ar  Sisters  coulil  desir(>,  witii  the  excep- 
tion of  w  hat  I  now  meutiou,  and  to  which  1  know  your  Lord- 
ship will  not  oltject.  It  is  that  this  conununity  >liall  have  it 
in  their  power  to  recall  our  Sistei's  at  any  time  after  six 
years.  Should  the  convent  at  Newfoundland  he  then  sulli- 
clently  establislu'd,  or  should  the  i)resent  llatterinij  ])r()spect 
of  pronu)tinii'  tin;  great  end  of  our  holy  Institute,  by  coiiper- 
ating  in  the  instruction  of  the  pooi*  female  chilureu  iu  St. 
John's,  )iof  sKircad  to'their  satistactioii,  or  should  they  wish 
to  return  for  any  othei'  jjarticidar  cause  which  they  may  dccui 
neccssar;/,  that,  in  that  case,  your  Lordship  would  iia\e  them 
safely  conducted  back  to  tlu'ir  convent  iu  (Jalway.  I  woidd 
not  have  thought  it  necessary  to  insert  this  latter  condition 
only  for  the  uncertainty  of  life  ;  for,  if  tlu.  Lord  spare  you, 
i'.s  your  Lord>hip  has  ])romised  it,  I  leel  eoulident  you  would 
faithfully  fidtil  that  promise.  Though  W(^  the  Sisters  ol  this 
conununity,  deem  it  necessary  to  make  this  stij)ulution,  those 


OF  NrWt'OUXDLANl). 


261] 


Sisters  wlio,  uihIcm'  your  Lordship's  protection,  iiiid  witii 
(iod's  assislaiu'c,  nw  midcrtakiiiu"  this  jwchioiis,  luit  iii'atil'y- 
iiig  task,  unite  with  us  iu  hoi)in<:'  that  it  may  not  Ix.  iicix'ssary 
to  recur  to  any  such  expedient.  With  .sentiments  of  esteem 
for  and  contidence  in  your  Lonlship's  j)aternal  tenderness 
and  protection,  I,  willi  th(!  sanction  of  our  irood  liishop.  Dr. 
lirownc,  I'esiiiii  to  your  care  our  dear  Sisters  for  the  unvit 
\V()i'l\,  earnestly  soliciting  for  tlieni  a  continuation  of  tlie 
kind  interest  wiiii-h  you  now  |)r()l'ess  to  take  in  their  every 
hai)piness.  1  trust  tiiose  Sisters  will  not  disappoint  your 
most  sanguine  wishes,  hut  tiiat,  t'aithfidly  cooju'rating  in 
your  zealous  elforts  for  the  welfare  of  the  estahlishmeiit, 
and  the  greater  glory  of  (Jod,  your  Lordshi[),  with  them, 
shall  have  the  consolation  of  seeing  it  })erlectly  consolidated. 
To  ol)tain  from  Heaven  this  blessing,  the  prayei's  of  this 
community  shall  not  cc^ase  to  he  oll'ered.  I  remain,  my  dear 
Lord,  with  great  respect  and  earnest  wishes  for  your  every 
hapi)iness,  and  begging  a  remembrance  in  your  prayers, 
"Su.    MAKY   ,I01L\   rOWLK, 

"  /Snperiorett.s.'" 


"The  stipulations  contained  in  the  Ivight  Rev.  Dr.  Flem- 
ing's, and  in  tlie  al)()ve  letter,  arc;  unanimously  api)roved  of 
an  1  accepted  by  the  ('haj)ter  of  Discreets. 

"Sit.  .AI.    JOSKIMI    XOLAX.  Ass/.stanf. 

"Sk.  M.    r,i:i:XAK'I)    KIUWAX,   Jho-sar. 

"Su.  :\L   ALOYSIL'S   JOW'K,  JIo//a'ri>/Mji'!ces." 

The  KM.  IJev.  Dr.  l)rowne  gave  his  •sanction  by  a  Latin 
dociunent,  of  which  the  i'ollowini:'  is  a  translation:  — 


''  I  sanction  and  approve  of  the  stipulation  enterc-d  into  by 
the  Superiori'ss  and  conununity  of  the  Presentation  convent 
of  this  town  with  the  Right  Rev.  Dr.  Fleming,  liisho])  of  St. 
.John's,  Newfoundland;  and  I  do,  by  these  presents,  author- 
ise and  dir«'ct  the  Sisters  M.  liernard  Kirwan,  ^L  Magdaieii 
O'Shaughnessy,  M.  Xavier  Molowney,  and  M.  Xavier  Lynch, 


284 


ECCLESIASTICAL   IIISTOHY 


to  (lopart  from  the  eonvoiil  wliicli  they  now  iiiliiihil,  and  pro- 
ceed, under  the  guidance  and  protecling  care  of  the  Kight 
IJcv.  Dr.  Fleniinii',  to  the  city  of  St.  John's,  Newfoundland, 
there  to  found  and  cstahhsh  a  new  convent  of  tliis  exceUent 
Jnslitute,  for  tlie  instruction  of  poor  teniaU;  children,  and  to 
promote  the  best  interests  of  religion  and  society. 

+   "CiKUR(JE   ,].    r.IJOWXE, 

"  BIsliDj)  of  GaJiniy. 
"Given  in  (Jahvay,  this  8th  day  of  August,  iHUa." 

To  the  above  document  is  attached  tlie  following  :  — 

"I  do  hereby  api)oint  Sister  Mary  r>(M-nai'd  Kirwan  Supe- 
rioress of  the  intended  convent  of  St.  John's,  Xewluund- 
Uiiid. 

+  "MICHAEL   AXTIIONY   ELE:\IIN(i, 

"  Bltiliop  of  Xeiifoundland." 

All  preliniinari(>s  having  Ixhmi  thus  settled  to  th(>  satisfac- 
tion of  all  })arties,  the  IJishop  set  aboiit  making  his  arrange- 
ments for  the  safe  conduct  of  the  nuns  to  tiieii'  new  and 
distant  home.  It  was  not  so  L'asy  a  matter  in  those  da\s  to 
secure  a  safe  and  comfortable  passage  across  the  Atlantic, 
especially  for  ladies  una<'custonied  to  ocean  travel,  as  nowa- 
days, wheji  ocean  steamers,  like  lloating  palaces,  ahuost 
amiihilating  time  and  s[)ace  and  reducing  sea-sickness  to  a 
mininunn,  are  leaving,  almost  daily,  all  the  piineijjal  ports 
of  the  Ignited  Kingdom  for  vVnu'rica  ;  so  that  while  the 
Sisters  were  patiently,  but  anxiously,  awaiting  the  moment 
of  their  departure.  Dr.  Fleming  was  expending  his  enei'gies 
in  endeavoring  to  ])rocure  a  suitable  vessel  for  their  trans- 
port. The  following  letter  will  show  the  worry  and  annoy- 
ance which  he  experienced  :  — 

"Adam  axd  Evk,  Monday,  12  o'clock, 

"5  August,  1833. 
"Mv  DEAK  Rev.  Mother,  — I  am  but  Just  arrived  from 
Liverpool,  and  although  not  a  little  fatigued  from  a  disagree- 


OF  NEWFOUNDLAND 


285 


)- 


iil»l»'  piissMir*',  1  liasl(Mi  to  reply  to  your  kind  letter  of  the  ith. 
Since  I  (lid  myself  the  favor  of  writinix  to  you  until 
this  nionjent  was  a  eontiniie<l  round  (»f  uneasiness  and  disap- 
pointment. Thrtie  or  four  dillereut  enirairements  I  entered 
into  with  shipowners,  and  searee  had  two  days  elapsed  with 
either  when  these  enjxaijements  were  hroken.  On  l"'i'iday 
evening  last  I  look  my  departure  for  Liverpool,  for  the 
seeond  time  within  these  ten  days,  and  havi;,  I  hojxj,  finally 
and  eHectually  concluded  tin;  matter,  as  far  as  a  written 
document  l)etween  the  shipowner  (Mr.  liroekiehank)  and  mo 
can  liind.  Uy  this  agreement  the  vessel  is  to  put  into  Water- 
ford  eai'ly  next  wecsk  to  take  us  up.  I  cannot,  of  course, 
withdraw  fi'om  this  contract,  as  hy  doinii-  so  I  should  not 
oidy  he  Itound  to  |)ay  the  conti'act  money,  hut  he  liable  for 
any  conse(|uenccs  atlendinir  the  vessel  on  the  passai>e  to 
^^'aler!ord.  I  cannot,  thciefore,  think  of  any  other  vesscd, 
unU'ss  IJrocklchank  would  he  satisfied  in  rescindinu'  the  con- 
tract. At  all  events,  I  stronuly  suspect  that  the  vcvssel  in 
youi  ])ort,  to  which  you  allude,  is  one  em|)loyed  in  the 
timlier  trade,  and  in  such  a  vessel  I  should  not  like  to  make 
passiiiz'c.  And  though  many  persons  may  take  passau'c  in 
these  ships,  and  he  fortunate  enouiih  to  ai'rivc  sdfe  at  their 
dotination,  in  ii'cneral,  thanks  is  due  to  the  weather,  and  not 
to  the  vessel.  They  are  princii)ally  ships  that  are  lit  for  no 
other  work,  heini:-  old  and  infn'm.  ]»ut,  whethci-  old  or  new, 
they  ii'ct  so  .-trainecl  hy  the  very  first  caruo  of  timl)er  that 
thcv  are  never  after  suflicientiv  staunch  to  make  them  .sea- 
worthy  for  my  choice. 

"When  I  take  u  day  or  two's  rest,  t'or  indeed  I  rccpiire  it, 
I  shall  iro  direct  to  (iaiwav.  On  Thursdav  morninir  T  intend 
Icjivinu"  this.  I  hope  tiien  to  have  the  pleasure  of  seeiuijf 
you.  W"\\\  you  tell  my  own  dear  Sisters  how  distressed  I 
have  been  that  the  many  unforeseen  difliculties  which  I  had 
to  meet  should  for  a  moment  liive  them  anv  uiieasin(>ss, 
which  they  necessarily  must.  l>i. .  now  that  a  I)etler  pros- 
pect is  openin<r,  and  every  hope  of  our  bein<r  in  St.  flolin'.s 
before  the   middle   of  Septeml)er   is   displayed  before  us,  I 


! 

I- 1 

•in 

1 


•2M\ 


KCCMvSlAS'riC.M,    IllSldUV 


I't'cl  ii  lo.'nl  (»f  ('.•lie  Mild  li'()iil)l('  I'mII  iVoiii  my  shoulders,  :ind 
inspired  l»y  tiie  mo^l  liv(dy  eoiilideiiee  tli;it  (iod  will  liimiiI 
nie  now  that  \'i\\uv  wliii'li  I  hiniilily  and  rer\ciill_v  |irayloi, 
evfi//  (i/ijxir/iniiU/  "/'  rniilrlhiil !:iii  In  tlw  spirfftidl  (in(l  liiii- 
pontl  /iiijijt/iirs'i  (■/'  f/ii sc  ///_//  (/ciir  St's/crs.  /'or  //is  (jrcafcr 
IkhioV  and  ijjti,  y. 

"^^'ilil  liie  hope  that  you  will  excuse  the  iiiaiiy  hlini(hM's 
of  this  letter,  wiiieh  eoidd  not  he  avoided  iVoiii  the  slate  of 
my  head  and  hand  al'ler  tlu  severe  passage  of  ia>l  iiiiiht,  l 
siiall  close  this  with  many  thanks  to  you  lor  your  kindness, 
and  most  alleetionale  I'ciiards  to  all  the  Si>ters  of  yoiii- 
t  )iiiniiinity.  Voiir  uiiieli  ohliiicul  iind  veiy  "^rati'l'u!,  Iminlde 
servant, 

"+  MICIIAKL  AN'rilONV  FLKMIXCi. 

'•  Till;  1!kv.   MoTinat  vSrn;i!i<nt, 

'^  J'ri'.'ioifdtidii  ('t)iirciit,  (I'li/inii/." 


\ow  to  resume  Mother  Maiidaleii's  narrative:  "Dr.  Flem- 
iiili' ai'rived  a  second  time  in  (ialwa\,  on  tiie  11th  Auiiii^t. 
and  we  h-t't  next  moriiini:',  the  least  of  St.  Clare.  \\'(!  were 
alla.-tirat  an  early  hour.  W'v  had  Mass  at  4  o'ldock,  and 
all  received  Holy  ( 'oinmnnioii. 

"The  inail-coa(h,  l»y  spei'ial  reijuest  ol"  the  Disliop,  was 
sent  over  from  Kiiroy's  Ilottd  to  the  convent,  and  we  all  liot 
in.  There  was,  of  course,  ureat  weei)iiii;'  and  lameiilation 
amonu"  the  Si.^ters.  as  they  knew  they  should  never  see  us 
aii'ain  in  tins  world. 

"There  were  no  other  passeii'iers  in  the  coach.  Dr.  Flem- 
iiiii'  sat  on  tlu!  box  l>y  the  driver,  and  us(>(l  to  come  now  and 
then  to  the  window  to  eiicoiiraii'e  us.  Our  lii'st  haltiniz'-plat'e 
was  llalliiiasloe.  At  Alhlone  we  cliaiiired  horses,  and  arrived 
at  Duhlin  in  the  excninu',  after  d;irk.  We  were  I>roiii;ht  to 
Ormond  (^uay,  to  the  house  t)f  a  lady  from  (ialway  named 
Iliiuhes,  owner  of  a  lame  paper-mill  and  factory.  She 
knew  me,  and  had  a  hearty  welcome  for  us  all,  and  set,  a 
portion  of  her  laruct  house  apart  all  to  ourselves,  ^^'e  had 
Mass  celelirated  every  morning  in  the  house.     A  priest  from 


f»F   NK\VForXI)I,AM>. 


287 


tlic  ii('i!j;lil>()riii;u'  <'i>ii\ciil  of  Adam  mikI  IOvc  was  scut  over  to 
act  iiH  fliaplaiii  loi'  us." ' 

After  SDiiic  nImv  in  I)ul)liii,  l>y  llio  same  anli((tial('(l  iiicaii-* 
ot'convcyaiicc  IIk'V  li'av('llc(l  to  AN'atcrloid.  Here  llifv  wcii- 
r(>('('i\»'(l  \\\\\i  <'iillni>iasiii.  Tlit'i'c  had  loiiir  hccii  a  l»oiid  ol 
sympathy  hctwccii  tlie  ^  VAv  liilarld  jiiid  tlie  'Dihir  aii  AV/.s/,-, 
the  f  ""ihif  FIsli,  \\^  Xcwl'oimdlaiid  is  ifraphicaliy  calicd  in 
t''«  ''.:!<•  loniiiic.  I'^or  many  yrars  prcviou.s  to  tliis  linu! 
^^^  .  ha<l  liccn  (lie,  start inj;-|)oin(    lor  cmiirranls  to  tiio 

"AN'iiii  i'lantation,"'  and  many  ol"  our  principal  Catholic 
rMniilics  liad  come  l»y  that  rouic.  'I'lic  .\h)rri-<'s  and  Kcnts 
liad  carried  on  a  rcLinlar  passcnifcr  traliic  tor  over  --ixty 
years.  (Sec  Note  A.)  It  was  only  nalnraU  tiien.  that 
any  ono  Icavinix  I'oi'  Xewlomiillanil  would  he  weleomeil  with 
a  cciiil  iiiilc  I'lnllc,  jind  oNcrw  helmed  with  niessa<;es  and  salu- 
tations to  friends  and  relations  fai'  away  across  tiie  ocean. 
A\'c  can  easily  iniaiiinc.  then,  tiie  enthusiasm  with  which 
those  holy  ladies  were  received,  who  were  looked  upon  as 
nol»le  heroines  (for  such,  indeed,  they  were),  lioinir  to  oll'er 
\\\)  their  lives  and  lahors  for  tlie  children  of  the  Far  \Vest. 

Tliev  wci'c  taken  in  chari^'c  Ity  a  gentleman  nameil  Sher- 
locU,  and  hrouiiht  to  his  place  (a  line  house  with  lai'izo 
tiardcns),  outside  the  city.  Mrs.  Sherlock  had  a  sister,  a 
])i'olcsscd  rtdiijiious  in  the  (ialua}'  house,  who  had  written 
announcinir  llic  coining'  ol"  the  nuns.  Here  thi'V  werc^  re- 
ceived with  royal  honors.  "ju>t  as  if  we  wcic  princesses,*' 
says  Mother  Maii'dalen.  "'riie  ])riesls  and  people  iVom  the 
town    came    out    continually    to    see   us.       The    Ui^hop,    l)r. 


i 


'  'i 


1  An  iimii^in;;-  iiu'iili'iil  orcnrnil  in  roMiiccliciii  willi  \.\m  liinllor,  wliirU  MoiIut 
Muirtlnli'ii  rcliiirs  willi  liri'  jn'i-iiliai'  i,tiir'l('.  It  1i;ijiik'iip(I  thill  inic  uiniiiiii;;  !i  viTy 
vollliir  friar  was  lolil  oil"  tn  I'l'lcliiiifc  .Ma<s  I'urllic  iiiiii-.  On  I  lie  s:mn'  iiinniiiiLT  a  vciicia- 
blc  I'lillur  caiiic  over  iViiMi  the  (  unvnil,  iiol  kiiowiiii;' Iliat  oiw  liail  alrraily  lucii  >riil. 
W'lu'ii  lie  saw  Iho  ycmiiLf  inii'^t  lie  said,  "  Well,  my  lioy,  wlial  dn  mui  !^l|rl\v  almiit 
iiiiiis  :  You  liail  lictli'r  i;<)  liai'k  lo  yoin'  i'omvi'mI."  This  voiimlT  IViai'  was  im  otlicr  than 
I'allicr  .lohii  MiiHocU,  who  was  thru  in  liis  twenty-sivth  vi'ar,  itml  hail  In  en  only  hitcly 
oniaincil.  I.illh'  it  was  thtin;^hl  ,'iit  llial  time  thai  he  was  artoiwanls  lo  hoconu'  tho 
I'li^hop  ol"  Ni  wlonnillanil,  and  spiiitiial  sn|iciior  for  many  years  of  Mother  Mai^chden 
anil  lier  little  eommiiliily.  And  many  ii  time,  in  aftei'  years,  did  he  vood-nalnii'dly 
rally  her  on  this  event,  sayin;:',  "  Ila,  lui!  Yon  Ihon^ht  me  loo  yonnu'  oneo  lo  act 
us  yinir  eliaiilain,  ami  yon  tnrned  me  away.     Now  I  (an  havi'  sati^faelion." 


I    ! 


288 


ECCLESIASTICAL  HISTORY 


SI 


liarron,'  was  most  kind;  lie  jiavc  u.'A  l)()()ks  and  rolics,  and 
caiiio  t)Ut  every  day  to  celebrate  Mass  for  us.  Sherlock's 
wa.'  !i  splendid  place,  with  a  grand  mansion  and  beautiful 
gardens.  A\'o  used  to  walk  in  the  gardiMis  every  day  ;  there 
was  also  a  \ovy  tine  library."  Mother  ^Magdalen  humorously 
describes  the  consternation  of  the  young  religious  on  their 
being  attended  at  dinner  by  servants  in  t"ull  livery,  and  ])rc- 
sentcd  to  ladies  and  gi'iitlenien  in  full  dress.  In  fact,  so  be- 
wildered were  the  poor  Sistei's.  after  their  long  retirement 
of  cloister  life,  that  they  did  not  at  all  enjoy  the  grandeur 
])repared  for  them,  but  begged  themsidves  off  on  the  next 
occasion,  and  had  a  cosey  little  [)lace  tor  thi-mselves  in  the 
library. 

Mother  Magdalen  i)r()mised  this  tine  old  Irish  family  that 
God  would  ri'ward  them  for  their  great  kindness,  and  the 
reward  was  not  long  delayed,  foi-  very  shortly  after  three  of 
the  Misses  Sherlock  received  the  grace  of  religious  vocations, 
and  Joined  the  l^rsuline  Order. 

As  soon  as  Dr.  Fleming  had  all  pi'cpared,  the  vessel 
appeared  in  the  stream,  and  the  mms  took  their  tinal  depart- 
ure from  Waterford  on  the  2Nth  August,  the  feast  of  St. 
August  in.  They  wc  j  accomi)anied  by  Dr.  Fleming  and 
his''n)oy  IMiil." 

As  the  ship  gentU'  floated  down  with  the  tide,  and  put 
out  to  sea,  the  long-pent-up  feelings  of  the  brave  Sisters  at 
length  found  vent,  and  they  began  vividly,  for  the  tirst  time, 
to  realize  the  greatness  of  the  act  which  they  had  under- 
taken.- 


'  Dr.  Ilarron  was  not  Bishop  of  VVatort'ord,  l)nt  an  Aincvicaii  Uisliop,  who  was 
travi'Uiiiir  Tor  his  lioaltli's  siikc  at  the  tiuic. 

''  The  scciio  ami  the  circiiinstaiicoshiin;^  rnri'ibly  to  our  niciuory  tlie  lines  ol' Seneca's 
Mcila'a  (Act  ii.,  .Scene  3)  :  — 


Aiulax  iiimhim  <|in  frclii  iiriiiuis 
Kiili'  lam  fniijili  luTlidii  rii|iil ; 
'l'i'rrart(|in'  hiiiih  pdHt  tcruM  vidcnn, 
Aniiiiiiin  li'vitniH  crrdulit  aiirln; 
Uulikxinc  HccaiiH  irrpia'a  cursu, 
I'ouiii  triiiii  tidirc  liirno; 
IiitiT  vita-  iiiiirtiH(HR'  \\\\», 
Nimlum  grueiU  llmlte  ducto. 


OF  NEWFOUNDLAND. 


289 


Tho  sailors  wore  most  rospcctfnl  <lnrii\ir  tlio  voyaiZG.  Xot 
a  loiul  or  iinlx'coining  Avord  was  spoktMi.  "(icorixc,"  the 
cook,  an  Kiiii'lisli  l)oy,  was  most  attentive.  Ilis  usual  saluta- 
tion was,  "  ^Vllat  will  tlu^  ladies  take  to-day?"  —  tliouirh,  if 
tii(!  truth  nuist  he  told,  his  larder  did  not  ijivo  him  a  very 
extensive  ehoiee,  and  the  ([ucstion  ot"  the  mi'-nii  was  frcner- 
ally  deeided  hy  puftini;  the  kittle  to  boil  and  giviiiLj  them  a 
euj)  of  tea.  Dr.  Fleniinu'  had  secured  the  eahin  entirely  for 
the  nuns.  lie  read  a  spiritual  le<'tmv  tor  them  every  day 
while  they  worked.  The  i>'('od  shi[)  "Ariel"  made  a  very 
fair  a\('rai:e  ])assaire  of  twenty-tive  days.  The  weather  was 
tine;  there  was  one  storm.  Tho  nuns,  of  eourse,  thought 
the  i)assairci  lonj;  and  danirerous,  and,  we  may  he  sure, 
pra\e(l  very  fervently.  No  aeeount  of  their  arrival  was 
I'eeeived  at  the  convent  in  Clal way  for  four  montiis,  tin; 
letter  eontainiuir  the  news  havinu;  heeu  mislaid  in  Liverpool. 
The  eonmumity  trave  them  \\\)  for  lost.  Solenm  requiem 
otliee:  were  eel  'orated  for  them,  eo[)ies  of  their  vows  burned, 
and  a  u'c'iieral  inournin<;  took  plaee  in  the  eonvent.  "  We 
arrived,"  says  Mother  Magdalen,  "on  the  21st  of  Septeml)er, 


Tlic  following'  may  lie  otVci'inl  as  a  traii^-latiun  :  — 

IJravi'-lu'iirti'd  lu>  who  tirot  in  frairilc  liark 

liaiiiichcd  o'lT  till'  ilei'p  to  pltiiiuli  the  iiiikiiowii  ilark; 

llirt  native  shori'  tichiiul  hiin  xwil'ily  llici*, 

Uiri  Koiil  I'diiliilini;  to  the  ucmlc  Incczi'. 

Ue  witli  a  iloalitfiil  coiirHi'  diviilrH  tlii'  Hood, 

And  tnintrt  liiiiim'lf  unto  the  HlrndiT  wood; 

Ia'iI  onward  I'Vcr  in  a  iiraccfiil  i)atli, 

l>nt  all  too  danij;oroiirt;  — 'twixt  lil'i'  and  death. " 

It  is  in  this  saino  choiiis  tiiat  oi'ciiis  tln>  woU-kiiowii  pi'opliecy  of  tlie  discovciy  of 
Ncwruiimllaml :  — 

"  vi'iiicnt  aniiis, 
Sn'cula  Hi'iis;  —  (|uilinH  Occanii^, 
Vlnc'uia  rerwtn  laxel  it  iiiu'i'iiH 
I'ati'at  trlliiB  Ti|)hy«(iuo  Snraa 
Di'tc'ual  Orhin.    Xei'  Hit  TerriH. 
I'llinia  'rimli'." 

In  latter  yearn  nliall  eoine  a  wondrous  au'e, 
When  ocean  sliall  the  ehalns  of  thliins  niitiind, 
And  show  the  inlirhly  world  that  lies  hehind. 
And  'I'iphys  shall  a  Nkwfoindi.and  explore, 
Nor  Thiile  shall  loliyer  he  the  last  known  shore! 

(See  Note  fl.) 


i'l 


f.  \ 


n-: . 


290 


ECCLESIASTICAL   IIISTOHV 


llic  foiisl of  Si.  ]\r:ittlK'W.  All  tlio  jiopiiliilion  of  the  Icnvn 
flocked  down  to  the  \vh:irvcs,  Miul  cliiuhcd  up  tlic  niMsIs  ol" 
the  vessels  to  see  us  iind  weleoMie  us;  nud  sonu-  ol"  tli(^ 
])rin('i]):d  inliMhitauts  eMine  on  hoiird,  vyiiiLl'  will;  each  oilier 
i'nr  llii>  honor  ol' rowiiio-  us  aslioi'c.  W'v  weri>  uol  allowed  lo 
(lisenihark  until  liny  had  made  a  Uew  landinn-stair.  The 
best  cari'iaii'c  in  the  town  (Dr.  Carson's)  was  sent  lo  I'elch 
us."  ' 

'riiey  wvvo  driven  to  the  r>i>hop*s  residence,  "the  Old 
Palace,"  cheered  all  the  way  l»y  the  crowd.  ]iy  a  reniai'k- 
al)le  coincidence,  the  \('ssel  hrinii'inu'  out  the  new  pri(>sls 
arrived  in  the  "  Nai'rows  "  of  St., John's  at  exactly  the  sanu! 
inonieni  as  the  "AricJ."  'I'Ucy  had  left  Ireland  on  the  same 
day,  hut  had  not  been  siiiiited  duriuii'  the  voyaiic.  The  muis 
remained  exactly  one  month  at  the  "Old  Palace."  In  the 
meantime  I)r.  Flcminii'  had  |)rocuri'd  a  lious(>  for  them:  it 
had  fornuMly  been  a  ta\(M'n,  with  the  siun  of  "The  KMsinj:^ 
Sun,"  —  a  name  consid(>rcd  as  a  propitious  omen,  syml»oli/iii>- 
the  liiiht  of  faith  and  ediicalicn  which  they  came  lo  dill'uso 
throuiihoul    the  country. 

The  day  of  the  oi^'uinir  of  the  schools  was  one  of  <:'reat 
joy  lo  llie  iiood  people  of  Xi'\vfoimd!an<l.  Il  is  described  in 
li'lowini:'  terms  in  one  of  the  local  papei's  of  the  day  ("The 
I'alriot."  October,  bs;');*.):  "On  .Monday,  21>l  in>t.,  this 
infant  institution  was  opened  for  the  i-cceptioii  of  pool'  feuiido 
children.  Sel(U)m  has  it  been  onr  lot  ii''  wilni'ss  a  scene  of 
such  deep  intei'est,  .  .  .  wlu'ther  we  rei^ard  the  com- 
munity of  ladies  of  family  and  foilune,  siirrendcrinii'  all  the 
Joys  of  life  .  .  .  Ibr  the  adxaiicemeiit  of  the  lilory  of 
Ilini  to  whom  they  liaxc  consccrate<|  their  V\\v>.  or  the  lillle 
a[)j)Iicant  for  admission,  while  she  tries  to  read  her  fate, 
or  multitudinous  feidiiiiis  of  the  esliniai)le  l*r(dal(^ 
to  whose  exertions   we  owe  this   blessini:'.      There   he  stood, 

1  All  iiiiiii'iiiiy:  ;iiu'i'(totc  i-i  told  <'i)nccniiiiu''  llii^  cinriiii;!',  Il  liiul  lonm'rlv  bt'ioii^rccl 
lo  Dr.  l'li'liliii;i,  1111(1  Iiilil  IjCL'ii  sold  by  liiin  in  order  lo  rui-ic  t'liiids  lo  I'lirrv  oiil  soiiii?  of 
Ins  yirut  spiiiliiiil  works.  Tlio  >jood  old  |)f.  ('nr«nii  drove  roiiiid  in  il  l'<ir  many  vomis 
on  Ins  moriiin;;  cM*,  (juitc  iiiditVcrt'nl  to  liii'  fact  llial  a  l.wixc  jiilditl  milrt'  was  ciiilda- 
/oiiL'd  on  llic  i>anc'ls. 


OF  NEWFOUNDLAND. 


2(11 


vn 

of 
1(1 
I'l" 

() 

ell 


witiKvssiii;:^:  llic  coiiiiiUilioii  of  his  doarcst  \visli(>s."  But,  nol- 
witlislandiiiu'  tli;i(  the  iiiiiis  o;ivo  up  to  the  use  of  the  schools 
all  the  house  except  the  verv  siuall  parloraud  two  hed-roouis, 
which  served  theui  at  ouce  lor  eouuuuiiily-iooiii,  sittiiii::;- 
rooui.  refectory,  and  chapel,  yet  after  all  liiey  could  not 
I'eceive  more  than  four  hundred  and  lifty  children.  Apiin 
we  repeat,  never  was  there  witnessed  in  St.  flohn's  a  scene  of 
dcojier  interest  than  the  openinir  of  the  Presentation  schools. 
Tiiis  hou>e  was  situated  at  tiie  foot  of  Pilots'  llill,  and, 
thonu'h  it  was  the  best  which  could  he  procured  at  the  time, 
it  was  still  hut  a  sorry  makeshift.  The  school  had  formerly 
lieen  a  slaui:htei-house.  There  was  a  forije  in  the  immediate 
neiiihlioriiood  and  a  stable  in  the  rear,  the  only  ajjproach  to 
which  was  through  tlu>  hall  of  the  house,  throunh  which  the 
horse  was  |(>d  daily.  Dr.  Flemiiii;,  one  day,  visitinii'  the 
nuns,  met  tiiis  j)rivileu'ed  (piadruped,  and  was  ohlii>-e(l  to 
yield  place  to  his  (>(|uine  majesty.  lie  had  had  no  idea  that 
the  nuns  had  to  sull'er  such  ineonvenienc(>  ;  and,  thouLrh  he 
had  hired  the  place!  for  a  yeai',  he  determined  to  remove  the 
nuns  at  once.  The  iittiuii"  up  of  this  hou-.e  and  school,  such 
as  it  was,  cost  ahout  tTiUO,  as  Dr.  Fleminir  stat(>s  in  a  letter 
to  Karl(irey  (iMth  I'\'l).,  1817):  it  was  also  suhject  to  an 
exorliitant  rent.  So  in  very  lilt ie  more  than  one  month  (viz., 
<Sth  Deceiulier),  a  more  suital)le  site  oll'eriini',  they  removed 
to  !i  more  comfortaliU^  and  commodious  dw(>ilinii'.  Tliis  was 
a  house  which  had  been  occupied  hy  Archdeacon  \\"\\,  near 
the  Kiiiu's  Ivoad.  Here  the  nmis  remained  for  eiiiht  years, 
i^ivini:'  tlie  locality  the  name  of  "  Nunnery  Hill,"  w..ich  it  l)(>ars 
to  the  present  day.  Here  a  new  school  was  erected,  at  a 
cost  of  u[)wards  of  £()()().  It  was  of  line  proportions,  and 
Dr.  Fleniim:'  spi>aks  of  it  in  his  letter  to  Archdeacon  O'Con- 
nell,  of  Diildin,  ISM,  as  "  laru"*' and  commodious."'  It  ii'ave 
accommodations  to  twc-lve  hundred  childnni.  "  ^^'hen  you 
take  into  accoimt,"  he  (-ontinues,  "that  for  nearly  eleven 
years  more  than  oik;  thousand  children  have  Ixhmi  in  daily 
attendance  at  these;  schools,  you  can  well  estimate  what  a 
world  of  <>-ood  these  |)ious  ladies  accomplished." 


i  I 


!H  !  I 


P 


2!>2 


ECCLESIASTICAL    HISTORY 


But  still  tlio  /.('III  of  lliis  (Micru'clic  l^rclato  wi\.s  not 
oxliiiustrd.  He  (Iclcnuiiicd  lo  })()ss(>ss  a  Ixiildiiii;'  wliifli 
Avould  surpass  in  ch^u'iinco  all  that  had  hitherto  bccu  orcclcd 

lousc   which  Ik!   dcsci'ihcd   as   (oinnio- 


in  St.  ,lohn 


'I'hc   1 


dious  at  lirst  was  now  no  loiiucr  so.  the  iuiiuIxt  of  liic  coni- 
nnniity  hciiiii'  doubled.  Uesidcs,  lu>  found  it  hai'd  to  he 
obliii'cd  to  ]y,iy  sucli  a  heavy  I'ent  ( i'SO  per  annum)  for  a 
house  old  and  deeayini;.  He  had  already  paid,  Itetween  rent 
and  repairs,  eonsideral)ly  over  £1 ,()()().  So  he  deternn"ned, 
thouirh  the  new  eonvent  was  not  coniijlete,  that  he  would  not 
renew  the  hase  of  Arehdeaeon  AVix's  house.  The  poor  nuns, 
theri'fore.  had  to  move  their  camp  a^iain.  'I'hey  i'eniaine(l 
over  nine  years  at  Xumiery  Hill,  \i/..,  from  Deeemlx'r  .'JI, 
l<s;;...  to  Auiiust  HI,  184.").  This  lim(>  Ihey  were  aeeonuno- 
dated  in  a  house  -which  had  Iteen  a  hall-alley,  situated  a  little 
outside  the  town.  Her(>,  apiin,  repaii's  and  a  tempoi'ary 
school  were  neeessaiw,  and  some  three  or  four  hundred 
j)ounds  expended.  The  nuns  i'emain<>d  at  the  hall-alley 
until  Decemlier  II,  1S4  I,  when  they  were  c()nduete(l  to  their 
niau'nilicent  new  convent  at  tlu;  head  of  Loiili's  Hill,  on  a 
site  Avhieh  he  purchased  in  \oveml)er,  IS  12,  and  which  ho 
descril»es  "jis  a  charming'  situation  above  tin;  town,  sulli- 
cicMitly  near  and  central.  It  commands,  and  is  well  seen 
from,  almost  every  part  of  the  town  and  harbor  to  Xari'o 
The  buildinii'  itself  was  "  worthv  of  th(>    ladie 


ws. 


and  the  ijloi'i- 

ous  cause  they  were  end)arke(l  in."  He  then  ^'(H's  on,  with 
pardonable  enthusiasm  and  ureal  minuteness,  to  describe  this 
mau'uilicent  structure.  "  It  prc^siMits  a  handsomely  linished 
front,  tlanUed  at  the  an<>'les  by  hexaii'onal  castellated  towers; 
a  spacious  ])ortico,  extendini:'  twelve  feel,  and  risin;^-  ciuiit 
feet  al.  )ve  the  whole  building,  marhini;' the  li'i'and  cut  ranee, 
with  two  s{|uai'e  towers  upon  the  angles,  showini*'  between 
them  a  splendid  liilt  ( Jreciau  cross."  It  cost  aln)ut  l'l,0()(). 
lint,  alas  I  the  poor  nuns  had  not  reached  the  end  of  their 
pili:rimai:'e.  They  had,  like  Mom!s,  o:ot  a  glimpse  of  the 
I'roniisod   land,    but    thcN'    had    not    \v{    safelv   ci 


'o.sse( 


I    th 


.lord; 


m. 


This    nobli;    buildinir    was    dot)med,    within     two 


OF    NKWFOUNDLANn. 


293 


yoiirs,  lo  lie  cninildcd  info  ;i  hvixp  of  ruins.  Tin?  charity 
of"  f!io  irood  nuns  trust rafcd  flic  })rii(li'ntial  caros  of  flic 
zealous  liisliop.  It  was  suflicicntly  distant  from  surround- 
inu"  iHiildiuiis  to  he  safe  from  conlla^'ratious  from  without, 
l)uf  on  the  occasion  of  flic  u:rt'at  lire  of  tiic  I)th  of  .hnu;, 
1<S4(!,  Avhich  hiid  the  whoh'  town  in  aslics,  <his  very  isola- 
tion, to  which  Dr.  Fh'mini:^  trusted  for  security,  was  flic 
cause  of  its  destruction.  The  li'ood  nuns  opi'netl  their  spa- 
cious halls  for  the  rece])tion  of  clothes,  t'urnilure,  etc.,  of  the 
peojilo  who  were  ohjiiicd  to  ilee  het'ore  the  terril)le  elemenf. 
Anionix  some  ot'  these  articles  were  l)roui;hf  a  few  snioidder- 
inii'  sparks,  which  soon  hurst  into  an  uucontrollal)i(;  llauie, 
and  all  was  lost.  The  nuns  hai'cly  I'scaped  with  their  lises, 
iNIother  .Mai:'dalen,  who  I'lMuaiued  to  uather  u[)  what,  letters 
and  small  cash  there  were  on  hand,  ha\  inn'  her  habit  sinii'cd. 
The  comuumity  at  this  time  consisted  of  six  Sisters,  two 
havini:  joined  the  orijiinal  four.' 

l)r.  Fleming' was  in  i^urope  at  the  timo  of  the  conllaiira- 
fion,  havimi'  u'onc  home  to  secure  some  additional  Sisters. 
Th(>  nims  W(!re  conducted  first  to  the  ]\Ier«y  ConvcMit  (re- 
cently built  near  the  cathedral  irroiinds)  and  thence  lo  a 
eotta<;e  belonixinii"  to  the  I»isliop,  and  situatecl  about  a  mile 
in  the  country.  His  Jiordship  had  i:i\<'n  to  this  little  farm 
the  name  of  '' Carpasia,"  that  beini;-  the  title  of  his  diocese 
ill  jxirtlhns.  The  nuns  remained  there  for  ti\t'  moiilhs. 
sle(>pinLr  upon  the  floor  of  the  barn,  teachinii-  the  children 
(who  still  llockcMl  to  them)  on  tine  davs  in  the  open  fields, 
and  in  rou<;h  weather  in  the  stables  and  outhouses. 

The  news  of  the  terrible  catastrophe  reached  the  l>ishop 
at  Liverpool,  where  he  was  en  route  for  St.  John's  with  two 
reliiiious.-'  His  consternation  may  be  more  easily  ima<;ine<l 
than  described.  He  immediately  ollei'cd  to  releas(>  these 
Sisters  from  their  [)romise  and  to  restore  them  to  Cialway  ;  but 


'  Tliosc  wiTO  Oitlu'iiiic  riii'lan  (Sister  I^^tiiiliiis  Al(iysiiis)  iiml  Amelia  Slianli'v 
(Sister  Aiildiiiii),  wiio  arrived  in  18rJ,  iiiid  iiiiiile  llieir  |)rol'essioii  im  tlie  least  i^t' the 
Presentation,  Jlst  Noveniln'v,  ISIti. 

"■  Tliese  wei'C  Catherine  FlVeneli  (.Sister  Josejihine)  ami  !Miss  Lovelocli  (Sister  I". 
tic  Sales), 


^f 


•f 


I 


fl  ' 


294 


ECCLESIASTICAL    IIISTOllY 


thoy  nobly  choso  to  como  on  to  tlu'ir  sisters  in  misfortune  in 
NewfoMiuUand.  When  Dr.  FlcniiuiT  arrived  in  St.  John's 
and  luheld  the  ruin  and  niis(MT  on  all  sides,  —  the  eoinplete 
destruction  of  the  eity,  and,  above  all,  the  i  o\v  vacant  and 
unsightly  si)ot  where  so  siioit  a  time  b(>forc  i.'>  had  looked 
with  pride  as  he  went  out  throuiiii  tlu;  "Narrows  "  and  saw 
the  noble  convent,  the  darlin<i'  object  of  so  mary  yeai's  of 
anxiety  and  labor,  —  his  heart  saidv  within  him.  V  hen  he  saw 
the  i)lac;e  when^  the  nuns'  beds  were  laid  on  the  iloor  of  the 
barn  he  shed  copious  tears.  II(^  never  wholly  recovered  from 
the  shock  which  he  then  received  ;  from  that  moment,  worn  f)nt 
by  faliutu>  and  anxiety,  his  health  beaan  to  decline,  llis  pen, 
erst  so  prolilic  and  so  swift,  bej^ins  to  show  siijns  of  waver- 
ini;-.  lie  likens  himself  to  the  dove  cast  upon  the  waters 
and  not  able  to  tind  rest  for  his  weary  winirs.  He  felt  that 
his  course  was  nearly  run.  A\'ritin<i"  in  the  followiu<;  year 
(18th  of  November,  1S47)  to  tim  Archl)ishop  of  (^uebet;  he 
says  :  "  After  labourin<;  in  this  ijortiou  of  the  ureat  vineyard 
for  nearly  thirty  years,  I  find  my  health  so  weakeiu'd  and 
my  constitution  so  broken  that  it  is  impossil)le  I  could  ever 
hope,  duritiij:  the  remnant  of  my  earthly  career,  to  enjoy  the 
happiness  of  meetini;  youi-  (^irace." 

r^arly  in  the  year  1847  Dr.  Fl(>min_£r,  feelinu'  his  stren<>th 
failinijf,  applied  for  a  coadjutor,  and  his  choice  was  tix(Ml 
upon  Fiither  John  T.  Mulloi'k,  the  lirilliant  priest  of  his  own 
Sei'aphic  Order,  whom  he  had  known  for  the  ))ast  fourlcH'u 
y(>ars.  Di-.  Mullock  arrived  in  St.  John's  in  May,  1><\H.  IIo 
immediatcdy  set  to  work  with  that  wondrous  viii'or  and 
strenirth  of  mind  and  will  which  were  his  distiuuuishiug  char- 
acteristics to  carry  to  coini)letion  all  the  ^reat  mulertakinirs 
which  he  found  in  an  unfinished  state.  TIk;  losses  which  Dr. 
Fleming  susfaiiu>d  by  the  "zreat  lire  were  almost  overwludm- 
in<x.  In  a  letter  to  Earl  (irey,  22d  of  Fcjbruary,  1817,  he 
details  the  sums  he  had  expended  in  connection  with  the 
convent  and  other  ecclesiastical  buildin<rs,  amounliuij:  to 
upwards  of  £10,000.  He  apjilied  for  a  portion  of  the  money 
subscribed  in  Fiii^land  for  the  sufferers  by  the  fire.     "Surely, 


/■(U^/^  /C^yrfi)  /vV//'^-^ 


I  il 

'1 


OV   MOWFOUNDLANI). 


2\)f) 


< 


tlioii,  my  Lord,"  ho  says,  "  it  is  not  unroasonahlo  that  T,  with 
llu!  deepest  respect,  and  in  all  tiie  Innnilily  of  sad  snllerinir, 
pray  your  Lordship  to  I'xtend  liere  a  kind  and  helpini;  hand 
to  enable  nie  to  once  inoie  open  a  school  to  which  no  fewer 
than  three  thousand  children  are  in  vain  lookinir  for  instruc- 
tion." 'I'his  touehinir  appeal,  howcncr,  proved  unavailinir. 
Nevertheless,  Dr.  MullocU  at  once  set  about  the  construction 
of  the  ni'W  schools  and  convents  on  .-i  still  urander  scale  than 
before,  'I'he  foundations  of  the  convent  were  laid  by  tin; 
Kt.   IJev.    Dr.    Mullock  on  the   I'.'xl  of  Auunist,  l<sr>(). 

The  l)resent  erection  is  of  cut  stone,  and,  with  the  school- 
house  attached,  cost  the  smn  of  £7,000.  The  site  is  at  the 
eastward  side  of  the  cathedral,  coinniandinir  a  niauiiiliei'iit 
ocean  view,  and  overlooking  for  many  miles  the  .surronndinjx 
cctuntry.  The  tyhi  corresponds  with  that  of  the  cathedral, 
and  the  spacious  grounds  in  the  real'  allbrd  ami)le  space  for 
gardens  and  ornamental  grounds.  ^N'ith  the  foundation-stone 
was  de})ositcd  a  vase  containing  several  medals,  current 
coins,  the  seal  of  Dr.  Fleming,  the  names  of  the  clergy  of 
the  colony,  of  the  lUshops  of  Ireland,  of  His  Holiness  the 
Pope,  the  journals  of  tin;  tlay,  and  some  wheat,  the  produce 
of  th(^  Island  in  l<St(S,  etc.,  together  with  a  scroll  bearing 
the  following  inscri|)tion  :  — 


J' 


ii 


11 


The  foundation-st^'-'^  of  this  Convent  of  the  Nuns  of  the 
Presentation  Order  i^first  established  in  this  City  of  St.  John's 
in  MDCCCXxxiii,  by  the  Right  Rev.  M.  A.  Fleming,  O.S.F  ,  Bishop 
of  Newfoundland)  was  laid  by  the  Right  Rev.  John  Thomas 
Mullock,  OS  P.,  Bishop  of  Newfoundland,  on  the  xxiii  day  cf 
August,  MDCCCL,  in  the  fifth  year  of  the  Pontificate  of  His 
Holiness  Pius  IX.,  and  the  fifteenth  year  of  the  reign  of  Her 
Most  Gracious  Majesty  Victoria,  Queen  of  Great  Britain  and 
Ireland,  Sir  John  Gaspard  le  Marchant  being  Governor  of  New- 
foundland. 

Uirect.   g  Superintendent,   PAT'K    KOUGH. 
Builder,  JAMES    PURCELl 


I 


290 


ECCLKSIASTICAL   IIISTOUY 


" 'V\w  locjil  Lc^isliiturc  litis  volod  llic  sum  of  ,i':i,()On 
stci'lini:'  towards  tlic  tM't'rIioii  of  those  hitildiiiirs.  I)r.  Klciii- 
iiitr  It'll  inoiicy  ( i';500)  in  his  will,  and  tlio  coniircpilion 
present  on  tin;  aliove  occasion  eontiihnted  £.")()(>.  In  one 
year  tVoin  the  present  time  the  whole  will  he  completed,  and 
hv  the  end  of  this  season  the  schools  will  lie  in  operation." 


In  the  conrse  of  three  yeai's  this  splendid  snite  of  hnild- 
iniis  was  completed,  l)iddinLr  delianc(^  to  the  elements,  for 
they  are  no  longer  conslrticted  of  frail  wood,  hnt  of  imperish- 
ahle  granite.  And  here,  at  last,  after  so  many  vicissitudes, 
tin'  tr'(>od  mms  found  themselves  in  a  peaceful  and  jjcr- 
manent  home.  They  had  not  heen,  however,  idle  durinj^ 
the  intcM'val  Itetween  the  lire  of  '  Ki  and  the  takini:'  posses- 
sion of  the  new  convent.  "  Wherever  we  went,"  says  Mother 
MnLrdalen,  "and  amidst  all  our  trials,  we  had  one  consolation, 
—  the  children  never  left  us.  If  we  had  not  the  pooi-  little 
ones  to  w  )rlv  for  we  coidd  never  have  lived  through  it." 

In  the  month  of  Novend)er  followiuii'  "The  Fire"  Dr. 
Fleming  hrouirht  them  to  the  ^lercy  ( 'onvent ,  .a  ])ortion  of 
which  was  ])artitioned  oil'  for  them,  and  "where  [say  the 
amials  of  the  convent]  the\'  received  all  ])ossil)le  kindness 
and  attention  iVom  the  Superioress,  Mrs.  Creedon."  They 
remained  there  live  years.  A  temporary  si-hool  (the  tilth) 
was  erected  in  the  rear  of  the  convent.  On  the  21st  of 
()ctol)i'r,  KS,">1  (the  anniversary  of  the  first  openinir  of  their 
school  eiii'hteen  years  previou>ly),  not  wishinu'  to  encuml)i'r 
th(^  Mercy  nuns  any  further,  they  took  up  their  abode  in  u 
portion  of  their  new  stone  schools,  which  wei-e  not  yet  com- 
pleted, and  for  -;ome  time  their  only  voni'  at  niiiht  was  a  sail, 
kindly  lent  by  one  of  the  merch.ants.  Finally,  however,  on 
the  2d  of  Jnly,  18.");),  they  took  possession  of  the  splendid 
convent  hnilt  for  them  by  the  lit.  Jfev.  Dr.  Mullock.  No 
expense  had  heen  sjiared  by  him  to  makt;  it  both  convenient 
and  conventual.  The  Sisters  now  enjoy  everythinii"  requisite 
for  their  happiness,  and  have  the  consolation  of  seeinn-  their 
institute  tirmly  established  in  the  Lsland.     This  is  the  eighth 


OF    NKWFOrNDLANl). 


21)7 


}0 
11- 
1)11 


1- 


honso  tlioy  occupied  sinco  they  left  (licir  convent  in  rutlwiiy, 
(liirinLT  wliicli  linic  liicy  liiid  iiiiiiiy  li'liils  niid  pi'lviif ions,  hut 
had  at  all  times  their  seliools  well  altenck'd,  wiiieh  amply 
recompensed  them  tor  all   iiiconvi'iiiences. 

From  this  time  we  heuin  to  see  the  Onh'f  llomish  and  put 
forth  oll>ho()ts  into  every  part  of  the  country.  In  duly,  IJS.'jI, 
the  tlrst  Itraneli  house  was  estahlished  in  Ilarltor  (iraee;  in 
IS.VJ  at  ('!'.rl)ineers' ;  1N')I>  at  Ilarhor  Maine,  and  also  in 
iSj.'i  at  Fi'rnieuse,  and  at  other  places.  At  present  ther(! 
lire  thirteen  hranch  houses  in  the  Island,  and  altout  one  hiin- 
dreil  and  twenty  reliizious,  who  teach  an  .'nd'aiic  of  two 
thousand  childi-en  annually.  After  hall-a-century  of  lahorand 
zealous  tcachinir,  how  much  more  truth  and  force  are  in  tlicso 
words  of  Dr.  FIcmin,!'"  than  when  he  wrote  tlicni  :  "And  so 
the  <:()od  Avorli  iroes  on.  Hundreds  of  children,  nay  thou- 
sands, ai'c  annually  sent  forth  from  their  schools,  tiaincd  in 
the  highest  princi|)les  of  virtue  and  honesty,  conferring!:  on 
our  country  a  hlcssiim-  incomparably  lich,  and  producini;  a 
rac(>  of  mothers  of  families  such  as  Newfoundland  may  l)e 
proud  of,  as  havini>'  no  superior  in  any  ))ai't  of  I  he  woild." 

The  lirst  religious  reception  ever  performed  in  Xewfound- 
land  took  place  on  the  otli  of  Auuiist  followinu'  the  year  of 
the  nuns'  arrival,  vi/.,  \S'M.  The  ceremony,  always  in- 
tcrcstinii'.  was  rendered  doul)ly  so  on  account  of  its  novelty, 
and  was  witnessed  hy  a  lai'i:'e  nunil)er  of  people.  It  had  at 
tirst  heen  intended  i(f  \va\v  the  ceremony  pcrfoi'nied  in  the 
nuns'  private  chapel.  I  lowever,  the  permission  (»f  the  liishop 
was  ohtained  to  have  the  laru'e  upper  school-room  converted 
into  a  tem[)oraiy  chaptd  for  the  i)m'i)ose,  for  the  gratitieatiou 
of  thost'  who  (h'sired  to  he  i)resent.  The  proi-eediuixs  on  the 
occasion  are  minutely  descrihed  in  a  local  newspa[ier,  "The 
Patriot,"  12lh  of  Auirust,  l.S;')t,at  irreat  leiiiilh.  Wo  «iivo 
here  a  short  accoimt  of  this  heautiful  ceremony,  Ix'sidcs  the 
symholic  meanintj  of  the  nivstic  riiihl  which  is  alwavs  in- 
terestinij;  and  touchiui^.  It  must  he  looked  upon  in  New- 
foundland as  an  event  of  irreat  importance  in  our  r>'iii:i;)us 
amials.     The  young  lady  received  was  INIiss  Maria  Nugent, 


« 


III 


203 


ECCLESIASTICAL   IIISTOUY 


fi; 


»ii!*(cr  of  .Joiiii  V.  Niiircnl,  Ks(|.  Tlu'  Hisliop  wms  nssLslcd 
by  tlu;  lifvs.  I*.  Waid,  as  dcncon,  T.  Waldron,  us  sul). 
deacon,  and  K.  Ti'oy,  as  master  of  ccrcnionics.  Tlie  licv. 
li.  Dully  was  also  present.  TIk;  Uisliop  awaited  at  tlio 
altar  the  procession  of  nuns,  who  soon  appeared,  *'  })receded 
hy  tiii'c(^  very  yoiinii'  cliildren,  nieces  of  llie  lady,  simply  at- 
tired in  while,  on(!  in  advance  hearing-  a  crucifix  and  I  Ik?  two 
others  heaiiuiz;  li>ihtcd  wax  candles  in  one  hand  whih?  with 
the  other  they  cai'iied  Itetween  theni  a  heauliful  silver  liasket 
containinii'  tlu;  hahil,  the  cloak,  and  tlu;  veil.  Alter  these 
followed  two  mins,  and  then  Miss  Nuu'cnt,  fashionaldy 
dressed,  and  supi)orled  l»y  the  Rev.  Motiier  on  ihe  riijht 
and  Mother  Assistant  on  the  h'ft.  At  the  c()nclu>ion  of  the 
ceremony  the  liishop  addressed  to  the;  newly-received  novice 
ji  short  and  aircctinii'  discoui'se,  takiui,'  for  iiis  text  the  words 
of  Luke  iv.  liS  :  'The  spirit  of  the  Lord  is  upon  me  ;  whcn;- 
fore  he  halh  anointed  njc  to  preach  the  gospel  to  the 
])oor.'  *' 

Here  we  see  the  first  fruits  of  the  ^ood  seed  sown  by  the 
faithful  children  of  Xano  Naule,  which  since  that  time  has 
produced  such  abundant  harvests  that  it  is  now  no  longer  a 
novelty  to  see  the  announcement  t)f  a  religious  r(>ception  or 
profession  in  our  new's|)apers.  This  lady,  ]\Iiss  Nugent,  not 
linding  her  vocation  adapted  to  the  I'reseiital ion  Order,  after- 
wards Joined  the  Mercy  Order,  and  became  a  most  exem- 
plary relif/ense,  as  we  shall  see  farther  on. 

On  Novend)er  r)th  Dr.  Fleming  pul)lished  for  the  first  time 
in  Ihe  liistorv  (jf  this  countrv  a  iubUee.  On  his  arrival 
with  the  nuns  he  fouiul  awaiting  him  an  encvclical  of  Pope 
Gregory  X\'L,  addressed  to  the  whole  hierai'cliy,  of  which 
Dr.  Fleming,  in  this  his  first  pastoral,  gives  a  sunnnary  : 
"  It  is  usual  that  ii  Poi)e  on  his  accession  to  the  pontificate 
should  address  a  letter  to  the  r)ishop.s  of  the  Christian  world 
on  the  subject  of  the  condition  of  the  Church.  .  .  .  The 
encyclical  letter  of  his  present  Holiness  will  maintain  a  dis- 
tinguished i)lace  among  the  monuments  of  ponlilical  zeal. 
His  Holiness  appears  earnestly  atllicted  by  the  news  of  the 


OF   NKWrorNDLAXn. 


290 


i 


iitllictions  (if  the  Cliiircli  ;  the  alhick.s  (liicclcil  jn^Minsl,  licr ; 
lh(^  (lisonlci'cd  xtatc  (tf  society  ;  the  inliilclily,  iiisiihonliiiii- 
tion,  Jiiid  \  ici-  wliicli  liiid  loiij;  r.'iL'i'tl  iitjMiiist  the  Climvli  of 
Christ,  its  cliicf  jjustois,  its  prelates,  mikI  all  its  .saered  law. 
He  eoiidemiis  in  the  most  foirihle  terms  tho.st; 
opinions  and  maxims  whieli  tend  to  weaken  tho  submission 
due  to  piinces  and  to  eneouraii'e  icvcdl.  To  these  ')pinions 
His  Holiness  opposes  tlie  doctrine  of  Si.  Paul,  who  dcv  iares 
that  'all  power  is  from  (lod;*  and  as  the  teachers  of  these 
opinions  have  alle<re(l  that  the  first  Chi'istians  did  not  revtdt 
because  they  wer<^  not  the  sli'oni!'er  party,  he  denounces  in 
the  most  nni|nalified  terms  a  doctrine  so  injurious  to  relii:ion, 
so  inc()nsi^tent  with  the  leslimony  of  history,  and  so  formally 
opposed  to  the  conduct  of  the  early  heroes  of  Christianity. 
He  (pioles  th(^  words  of  St.  Kucharius  on  the  sui)joct  of  the 
martyrdom  of  St.  Mauritius  and  his  comj)ani()ns,  in  which 
the  holy  mailyr  says  expressly  'that  the;  daiiircr  of  losin^f 
their  lives  did  not  indiu-e  them  to  revolt;'  and  another 
])assa_ii:e  from  Terlullian,  which  states  'that  tho  Christians 
were  very  numerous,  and  that  if  they  sull'cred  themselves  to 
lie  i)ut  to  death  it  was  not  because  they  were  weak,  but  be- 
cause tlicy  knew  that  revolt  was  never  lawful.'" 

These  observations  of  the  I'ontilf  were  jirobably  called 
forth  by  ihe  disturlied  and  rt'volutionary  states  of  France  at 
the  time.  Tlu'  Holy  Father  then  complains  of  "indill'erencc! 
in  reliiiious  matters,  bad  books,  which  have  been  so  indus- 
triously circulated,"  and  calls  on  the  whole  Church  to  })our 
forth  ])rayers.  The  Jubilee  in  this  Island  and  its  Vicariate' 
■was  i)r()claime(l  for  two  months,  vi/.,  from  1st  December  to 
the  lirst  Sunday  in  Fciu'uary  ;  tho  other  conditions  being 
tho  ordinary  ones  ;  the  visits  retjiiii'ed  beinu'  three  separate 
visits  of  one-half  hour  to  any  Catholic  i-hurch. 

This  beiui;  the  first  flubilee  of  which  we  hav(!  any  record 
in  our  Cluirth  history,  I  have  IhouLrht  it  interesting  to  dwell 
in  a  manner  somewhat  lengthy  upon  it. 

From  this  wo  judiio  that  the  Church  in  Xewfoundhuid  was 
fairly  launched   upon  tlu;  career  of  future   gri'aluess.     She 


^i 


;3oo 


ECCLESIASTICAL   IIISTORV 


was  licginninj^  to  omor«j:o  IVoin  tlic  !inti(itin((Hl  stale  In  wliicli 
ishcliad  liitliorU)  «?xisl(Hl,  and  to  hlooni  with  nil  the  beanly  of 
lii(>rMr('liial  dcvclopnicnt,  wliicli  last  riiH-ned  durin<>:  tiio  last 
yoars  of  tlui  I'piscopacy  of  Dv.  Flcmini::,  and  canic  to  a  irrand 
dciiice  of  poii'cclion  in  the  jilorious  roinn  of  his  successor, 
th."  III.  Kev.  Dr.  .Mullock. 


OF    NKWrOUNPLANI). 


;k)i 


CTIAITEK   XXIII. 

DIl.     n.HMINCi'S    NISITATIONS.— [lS31-l.S,S(i.] 

Est  ' '■  linient  of  ;i  I'l'dlr^laiil  Mi'-lmpric  -Dr.  Flcniiiiu's  VisiiMtion  Xovtlnvard!), 
iMcfi  -  l'<);;t>,  'I'iiliii^-  llailiiii-,  llcniiiu^  Neck,  (iiicii  l'.!i\,  MhiIum's  llurlinr,  Kiiifx's 
Ciiv  \'i>it!iti(>ii  Sdiilliwiiiils,  lK;i."i  -  I'rtty  Ihulicn  „  I'"fn_vl:m(l,  I'ciniciisc,  Itr- 
...  ..so,  liiii'ili — I)is<'()nir()rtH  (if  Missioiiiirv  Life  SI.  I'ii'nc,  lliiy  (I'l^spiiir,  (i;il- 
tois,  Conn  IJivcr,  Inilinii  Hcttlcnicnt  -  Simplii'ily  .•nul  I'icty  of  llic  liidiaiis  (Iiciil 
I'hicciilia— St.  Man's Siii;ill-|ii>\  in  Si.  .Inlm's  and  I'clly  Ilailior. 


A 


rKOTKSTAXT  l.isliopric  w:is  cstMhlislicd  in  {he  Isltiiid 
■^^  ill  IN.")'.*,  under  the  til Ic,  not  ol"  Si.  J()lm'>,  lint  of  "  \c\v- 
roiiiidlMiid."  Tlic  lirst  lUsliop  \\;is  l)r.  S|><'ns('r,  :iiid  on  liis 
IriUisliition  to  .Iiiiuaicii  l>i'.  Fcilil  \v:is  appoiulcd  liis  siu- 
I'f.ssor.  Tlic  iiiipoiutiiiciil  UMs,  of  course,  purely  a  State 
matter.  The  words  of  tiie  iiist runuMit  of  estalilislinKMil  are- 
as follows:  "Whereas  1)y  letters-patent  under  the  (Ji'eat  Se.al 
of  the  I'liited  Kiniidoni  of  ( ireat  lirilaiii  and  Ireland,  hear- 
iuLrdateat  \\'estininster.  the  ITlli  d;i\  of  .Iiilv,  l.s.'IH,  in  the 
."hI  \{';\v  of  ( )ur  reiuii,  W  C  did  erect ,  found,  :iii(l  ord.ain,  make 
.iiid  constitute  the  Inland  of  \ewfoundland  to  he  a  Bishop's 
See,  and  to  \h'  called  henceforth  the  liishopric  of  New- 
foundl.and." 

Duriuii"  the  years  ]s:]\  and  is;;,")  1  )r.  l-'lemiiiu'.  not  wit  h- 
staiidinn'  all  his  niiiltifarioiis  l)U>iness,  and  the  dillicultics  ami 
obstacles  placed  in  his  way,  not  only  in  those  polil  ico-reliii- 
ious  lualters,  lail  al>o  in  the  mailer  of  pvociirini;'  a  >ile  for 
llu'-  callu'dral,  in  which  he  was  then  eiiuaLH'<l.  and  which 
caused  him,  as  we  shall  ^ce.  to  cross  the  ocean  three  or  foiii' 
times, — ■  not  wilhst.'inirmii' all  this  he  found  I  ime  to  ni.ike  e\- 
teii.-'iNc  visitations  of  his  \'icari;ile,  Ixitli  north  and  wesi . 
He  has  lel't  complete  descriptions  of  these  \  isilalions  amoi.'i;' 
his  munerous  writiiiirs,  parliciil;irly  in  his  "  /ii/iir.ioiir"  to 
I'i'opai:;m<la,    in  his  letters  to  the    .\niials    of  the    I'rojxrt/o- 


<  fj 


4 


302 


ECCLESIASTICAL   HISTORY 


hecMi  :ili('!uly  j)iil)lisli(Hl  in  pamplilct  form,  yvi  tlio  otiiors, 
jis  fur  !is  I  know,  only  exist  in  the  Ilaliiin  ami  FrtMU-h,  and 
tlic  laltor  arc  now  rare  and  out  of  print  ;  hence?  it  w  ill  be 
interest injj^  to  ivprodnee  them  here,  so  a.s  to  preserve  tliem 
in  a  more  permanent  form.  I  shall,  however,  strive  to  enr- 
tail  them,  so  as  tt)  a\  oid  nnnoeessary  repetitions  :  — 


When  1   formed  mv  resolution  to  visit 


my  poor  jieojilc 


in  i\w  northern  distriet,  I  was  ohliued  to  aecept  the  kind 
oiler  madi'  me  l»y  the  master,  of  a  <>ratuitous  passaue  on 
hoard  a  small  reiurn  tishinir-schooner  bound  for  Tilling 
Harbour,  in  the  island  of  Foiio.  Wc  sailed  from  St.  fIohn\s 
on  the  2()lh  of  last  June,  LS34,  huh-n  irunwale  ile(>p  uith 
neeessary  su))plies  for  tlu;  suimner's  lishers,  and  I  was 
obliii'ed  to  ii'o  aeeompanied  l)y  only  one  cleruyman,  liev. 
Mr.  Hallon,  and  without  a  siniile  donu'stie.  while  the  vessel 
was  litei'ally  crowded  with  men  ;.ud  women,  who  were  hired 
for  till'  prosecution  of  tli(>  lishery.  Our  course  beiiiii'  partly 
alonir  shore,  and  the  wind  [)retty  favourable,  we  reached  our 
destined  port  in  forty-ei:Li'ht  hours. 

"The  island  of  Fou'o  is  a  barrer.  rock  of  about  one  hun- 
dred miles  in  circumlerence,  at  the  t'litraiice  of  (Jreen  Hay, 
and  only  inhabited  because  tlie  sea  around  was  considered 
ji'ood  lishinii'-u'round.  Iiavinu"  lor  its  capital  the  Harbour  of 
Foii'o.  Tiltiiiii'  Harltour,  on  the  south-eastern  extremity,  is 
the  second  principal  town,  and  contains  about  i'wo  hundred 
inhabitanls.  and,  besides  this,  tlieiv,  nw  many  little  villaii'cs 
containing  from  twenty  to  lifly,  or  one  hundred  iiiJial)itants 
each,  of  which  the  principal  ar(>  flobat's  Aim,  and  another, 
the  entnince  to  which  is  called  Herring  Xeck  ;  and  t!ie  island 
irives  name  to  a  district  reluriiinii"  a  member  to  our  Now- 
foundland  House  of  Assembly       lUil   it  is  not  my  intention 


OF  NEWFOUNDLAND. 


303 


to  liivo  you  a  uooiiniphiciil  dosi'iiption  of  llu^  coimtry,  and 
thoivCoiv,  puisuiiiix  my  tour,  T  must  inform  you  tliat  at: 
Tiltiuj;  Harbour  I  romaiiKMl  four  days  to  recruit  al"t(<r  the 
disai>:r(.'omcnt  of  niv  very  uncoinlbrtalilc  vovaL'o,  and  duriui; 
luy  stay  I  oontirmcd  iif)  fewer  tlian  tlu'ce  lumdred  and  four 
|)orsons,  heiny  nearly  the  entire  poimlation. 

"From  Tiltinir  Harbour  I  sailed  on  board  a  small  iishiuir- 
boat  for  Fortiuie  Iltu'bour,  situated  at  the  north  extremity 
of  (ireen  P»ay,  intendini*'  there  to  begin,  as  it  is  the  most 
remote  inhabited  part  of  the  l?ritish  portion  of  Newfound- 
land, and  next  to  the  Freneh  Shore.  But  the  bay  is  exeeed- 
inuly  open,  and  generally  tempestuous,  and  as  the  ])assage 
across  is  not  less  than  from  fifty  to  sixty  miles,  we  could  not 
have  UHich  conlideiice  in  our  littU'  craft,  and  were  obliged, 
after  beating  about  for  a  day,  to  put  into  Jobat's  Arm  in' 
distress,  Avhere  we  continued  mitil  the  next  day  ;  and  having 
been  obliged  to  send  back  the  boat  that  conveyed  us  so  far, 
we  were  kindly  accommodated  with  a  boat  and  crew  by  Mr. 
Henry  Stark,  and  sailed  next  morning,  l)ut  not  until  I  htul 
oU'erecl  the  Holy  Sacrilice  and  achuinisti'red  Coniii'mation  to 
nin<>ty-eight  individuals  ;  but  finding,  after  u  (hiy  niul  a  night , 
that  a  rough  sea  and  contrary  winds  and  threatening  weather 
promised  us  a  longer  passage  than  we  anticipated,  and  seeing 
that  it  was  only  by  this  boat,  and  the  cxertion.s  of  the  two 
men  who  worked  her  under  him.  that  poor  Stark  .supported 
his  helpless  fan\ily,  I  was  most  anxious  to  get  into  some  port 
where  I  miglil  have  an  opportunity  of  ndcjising  them,  and 
procuring  a  fresh  crew  ;  but  the  worthy  fellows  fcdt  hurt  at 
the  i)roi)osition,  and  when,  in  the  course  of  the  morning 
after,  wo  were  put  into  the  Harbour  of  Fogo  in  distress, 
they  exulted  at  my  disappointment  wlu  ;>  they  fountl  I  could 
not  procure  another  l)oat. 

"We  sailed  from  Fogo  in  a  few  hours,  determined  to 
struggle  on,  but  again,  towards  the  next  evening  (the  eve 
of  the  festival  of  SS.  Peter  and  Paul),  were  driven  into 
Herring  Neck,  where  wc  enjoyed  the  huml)lc,  though  cor- 
dial, hospitality  of  Mr.  iind  Mrs.  Kent,  and  where,  for  tlui 


II:] 


304 


KCCLESIASTICAL   IIISTOHV 


first  lime  simo  we  Icl't  the  ('(Miif'ortahle  I'csidciico  of  Mr. 
Burke,  (tf  Tiltinij:  IIiirI)oiir,  wo  indiiliicd  ii»  the  liixiirv  of  a 
bed  ;  and  thus  were  we  for  lour  ih\y!<  healeii  ahout  at  every 
side  of  the  Island  of  Fouo,  and  it  was  not  until  the  evening 
of  the  tiflh  we  entered  Fortune  Harbour. 

"Here  were  we,  then,  in  an  o|)en  boat,  without  the  least 
shelter  from  the  inelonieney  of  tin;  weather,  — a  boat,  taken 
at  once  tVom  the  tisherv,  covered  with  the  slime  of  li.sh, 
now  rendered  putrid  from  the  aelion  of  the  sun,  —  after 
inhaling  that  putrescence  for  live  days,  and  being  in  distress 
for  i)rovisions,  at  length  permitted  to  land  in  our  destined 
port  ;  and  here  we  released  our  pooi-  men  and  their  I)oat, 
after  so  long  an  abscence  from  those  avocations  to  which 
their  families  were  to  look  for  support  ;  and  as  it  liappened 
to  have  i)roved,  I  believe,  the  only  good  week  of  the  fishery 
in  that  (|uarter,  their  sacrifice  for  our  acconnnodation  nuist 
have  b(>en  great  indeed,  and  is  to  me,  even  now,  a  cause  of 
heartfelt  regret. 

"  And  now,  who  I'an  define  my  feelings  on  entering  this 
wild  distric' ,  there  to  commence  the  t(Mls  of  my  visitation,  at  a 
distance,  in  the  most  direct  way.  of  near  four  hundred  miles 
from  my  residence,  but  increased,  in  my  devious  and  ])eril- 
ous  course,  u|)wards  of  six  hundred  ;  or  who  i)ortray  my 
gratitiul(>  to  God  for  inspiring  me  with  fortitude,  as  He  had 
blessed  me  with  lu-'lth  and  sjjirits,  to  eml)ark  in  an  under- 
taking so  hazardous? 

"  I  found  about  forty  families,  comprising  the  entire  pojin- 
lation  of  this  harbour,  principally  Irish,  or  the  descendants 
of  Irish  settlers,  and  never  shall  1  forget  the  burst  of  allee- 
tion.  of  exultation,  with  which  wo  were  received  among  them. 

"  It  was  evening  on  the  lirsl  of  ,luly  when  we  slowly 
approached  the  high  and  commanding  shores  on  the  north- 
wi'st  side  of  Green  Bay,  and  weai'v  as  we  were,  our  limbs 
crijjpled  from  constant  sitting,  our  heavy  eyelids  closing 
from  Avant  of  sleep,  our  s[)irits  de])ressed,  and  our  crew  at 
length  exhausted  with  exertion  :  yet,  subdued  as  we  were, 
wo  could  njt  refrain  from    admiring  the   sublimity  of  the 


OF   XEWFOUNDLAXn. 


305 


prospoct  bcloro  us  :  tlio  iiiajcsl y  of  tlio  inoimtains,  crowned 
by  ctoniiil  ^'')rosts,  as  the  sctliiig  sun  pouivd  its  '  liijuid  lii>lit' 
Ihrouiili  (Ii(^  luliiiiio.  We  were  bcciilmcd  jis  wo  stood  before 
the  iiari'ow  inlet,  and  our  crew  were  uiKd)le  to  row  our  eraft 
in.  We  wei'e  perceived  from  tlu^  shore,  and  curiosity  to 
ascertain  who  were  the  strangers  brou<>ht  out  a  boat  to  see 
us.  Upon  h'arninir  who  we  were  thi-y  returned,  and  in  a 
little  time  after  skill's  (for  there  is  not  a  sinulo  sail-'noat  in 
the  entire  harbour)  came  out  to  tow  us  in,  and  we  entered 
amid  the  acclamations  of  all,  men,  women.  'Uid  children  ;  all 
had  left  their  employments,  and  the  evenin<j:  was  devoted  to 
festivity,  and  closed  with  thanksaivinir  to  Heaven  for  impart- 
iiijr  to  tiieni  —  who,  in  the  memoi'y  of  man,  had  been  only 
twice  visited  by  a  dereyuian  —  so  irreat  a  blessin<jf. 

"1  remained  here  three  days,  durinu'  which  time  there  was 
a  total  cessation  from  business,  so  anxious  wen^  the  poor 
l)eoi)le  to  show  us  every  attention  ;  and  the  unall'ected  [)ain 
we  felt  at  jjartimif  was  considerably  enhanced  by  the  honest 
effusion  of  unsophisticated  sorrow  that  burst  from  all,  and 
the  tear  that  trembled  on  the  eyelid,  or  rolled  along  the  fur- 
row(>d  cheek  of  the  weather-beaten  li^herman. 

"In  tlu'  entire  Island  I  have  not  met  a  i)eopIe  so  well 
instructed  in  their  reli<>ion,  or  among  whom  reigns  so  much 
virtue,  or  a  place  where  vice  is  so  little  known,  —  and  all  this 
good,  under  (iod,  to  be;  attributed  to  the  vii'tues  of  three 
families.  The  fathers  of  these  excellent  families  assemble 
the  entire  population  alternately  at  their  houses  on  Sundays 
and  holydays,  whe'c  j)Mblic  j)rayer  is  offered  and  a  spiritual 
lecture  read,  and  in  th(>  evenings  of  hvni  and  Advent  the 
Rosary  and  a  lei'ture  ;  whiU'  the  mid  hours  of  the  Sabbath 
thoughout  th(!  year  are  devoted  by  Airs.  Power,  that  truly 
Christian  mati'on,  in  instructing  the  children  of  her  neigii- 
bonrs  to  walk  in  th«'  paths  of  religion  and  morality,  —  in 
training  their  infant  lips  to  lisp  the  praises  of  Ilim  who  thus 
raises,  even  in  'the  desert,'  lights  to  guide  to  happiness 
eternal.  This  excellent  woman  is  a  (ierman,  and  rcc(Mve(l  her 
education  from  a  connnunity  of  nuns  in  her  native  country. 


'ft--. 
'■I'll 


■    f. 


306 


ECCLESIASTICAL   IIISTOHY 


^jt 


J   II 


''Oil,  liow  (lid  my  l)()s<>in  throb  with  (Miiot ion  upon  witnoss- 
iiilj  Iho  fiuils,  th(^  oxtraonliiiiii'V  fViiits,  rosiiltiiiif  fi'oin  the 
l)i()us  cxiimph"  ;iii(l  rclii^ious  iiif^tnu'lioii  of  ouo.  ijood  woiujui, 
\vh(Mi  I  v(>ll('cl('(l  that,  in  a  tew  yoiirs,  by  the  iiistninuMitality 
of  my  littlii  convent  of  St.  John's,  in  every  liarbonr,  and 
every  ei'eeU,  and  every  eove  in  the  I-land.  wotdd  b(>  foniid 
mothers  dill'iising  aronnd  them,  like  Mrs.  Power,  the  liless- 
iiijrs  that  Heaven  had  so  abnndantly  imparted  to  them! 
and  how  it  did  eonlirm  the  conlidenee  I  entertaine(l  that  that 
invalnabU^  i.istitntion,  poor  as  it  now  is,  nnist  llourish,  des- 
tined, as  it  is,  by  God  for  tiie  re<>'en(M'ation  of  a  ])eople  I  I 
met  these  good  people  in  joy,  and  parted  with  them  in  jjain. 
I  said  l)efore,  that  in  the  entire  harbonr  there  is  not  oik;  sail- 
boat, and,  tlierefore,  I  nuist  of  necessity  c()nnn(Mic(>  my  wan- 
derings home  in  a  small  skill",  wiiich  they  call  here  a  'punt.' 
It  is  something  like  your  jolly-boats,  or  rather  whale-l)oats, 
but  not  as  seaworthy  ;  and  in  this  giddy  bark,  built  to  eon- 
tain  from  two  to  three  (piintals,  or  hundred-weight,  of  lish, 
and  now  smik  to  the  gunwale  by  tlu'  addition  to  tlu^  crew, 
consisting  of  four  p(>rsons,  of  us  two  men,  —  in  this  contined 
thing,  where,  when  eripjjled  with  long  sitting,  we  could  not 
(extend  our  lim!>s,  nor  dare  to  stand  erect  for  tear  of  ui)set- 
ting  the  skill",  we  |)ulle(l  oil' to  cross  ihe  extensive  and  turbu- 
lent walei's  of  (jreen  l>ay. 

"This  magnilicent  bay  eompi'ehends  several  smaller  bays, 
each  of  which  in  its(>lf  would  be  considered  too  larg(;  to 
cross  in  a  tolerably-si/ed  sr.il  lishing-boat.  W(^  could  not, 
of  course,  b(^  expected  to  feel  cpiite  secure  in  our  lillle  craft. 
However,  as  it  was  my  intention  to  visit;  the  harbours  and 
creeks  along  the  shore,  we  continued  to  coast  along  until  the 
evening  of  the  lirst  day,  ■when  we  ))ut  into  :i  placi!  called 
Shi[)  Kun,  inhaliited  by  only  two  families,  where  I  exchanged 
a  couple  of  hands  fir  a  younger  and  l"resh(>r  pair,  and,  having 
passed  thi'  night  tluu'is  sailed  in  the  morning  l"or  Morton's 
Harbour.'    Here,  on  our  arrival,  I  lirst  began  to  feel  fatigued, 


Dr.  I"l(-iiiin" met  in  lliis  Imrboiifoiicdf  tlic  niitivc  American  Imlians,  lunl 


pro  nil 


^e,l 


to  return  next  June  to  meet  tlic  several  Indian  tribes  of  lliiit  eoust  at  the  Itiver  Exploits. 


OF   NEWFOUNDLAND. 


307 


oss- 
tlio 

IMIl, 

lity 
.'iiul 
1111(1 

"Ml! 

Ii;it 
ics- 


iiiul  wlicii  I  lit  first  cssiiycd  to  use  my  liiuhs,  tlicy  refused  to 
sustiiin  Miy  hody  ;  l»ut,  as  [  could  uot  jirocure  a  t'resli  crew, 
I  Wiis  forced  to  press  forward  to  Fogo,  Ix'cause  hetwtHMi 
these  two  harbours  th(!r(!  was  no  place  in  which  I  couhl  hopt; 
to  _i>-et  a  boat  or  crew.  l)Ut  1  cannot  pass  here  without 
adverting  to  tlie  warm  h()si)itaiity  exhihit.'d  toward  us  hy 
i\Ir.  Taylor,  an  honest  rrotestuut  settler.  He  Ii\('s  a  litth; 
outside  of  Morton's  Ilarhour,  and,  upon  hearing  of  our  ari'i- 
val,  he  at  once  c,.:'ui  down  tt)  press  us  to  refresh  ourselves  at 
his  house.  lie  said  we  looked  fatigued,  and  that  he  had 
comforlahle  beds,  and  altundant  means  of  recruiting  us  amid 
our  hardships,  and  oll'ered  us  that  strongest  of  all  induco- 
ments,  a  'hearty  welcome."  lu'ging  expressly,  and  with 
marked  kindness,  that  if  he  had  a  ])alace  at  his  (lis[)osal  lio 
should  feel  ha|)|)y  at  ollering  it  for  our  use  ;  and  oiu'  only 
regret  in  leaving  the  harbour  was  at  our  inability  to  gratify 
his  wishes  ;  ])ut  I  shall  ever  retain  the  memory  of  iiis  kind- 
ness, and  if  it  over  again  be  my  fate  to  visit  that  coast  I  shall 
uot  pass  without  testifying  to  him  the  sense  I  entertain  of  his 
sterling  worth. 

"A^'e  sailed  now  one(>  more  for  Fogo,  and,  with  excessive 
exertion,  reached  that  port  al"ter  a  j)assage  of  four-an<l-twenty 
hours  (the  wind  heading  us  the  entire  way)  ;  but  night  com- 
in<;  on  I  implored  the  crew  to  li'el  ashore,  that  we  miiiht 
renew  tin'  cii'culati(in  of  the  blood  (n  our  long-contract(Ml 
Tnubs  ;  and  we  accordingly  did  go  ashore,  and  lighting  a  lir(% 
we  lay  alongside  oi'  it  on  the  rocks  and  slept  till  morning,  — 
the  soundest  and  most  icfresliing  sleep  we  ever  in  our  lives 
enjoyed. 

"  r>ut  I  lia\('  exhausted  your  patience  and  my  paper.  Suf- 
fice it  to  say,  that,  iu  the  course  of  our  short  summer,  I 
accom|)li.died  a  Journey  of  at  least  more  than  twelxc  hundred 
miles,  visiting  I'oi'ly-six  harbours  in  my  circuit  through  (irecn 
l)ay,  lionavisla  IJay,  Trinity  J»ay,  and  Conception  15ay  ;  that 
T  administered  tlu;  Sacrament  of  Confirmation  \n  upwards  of 
thr(>o  thousand  [lersons  ;  of  I'enance  and  Eucharist  to  nu)re 
than  that  numbiir.     For  the  greater  part  of  the  time  I  knew 


! 


i  li 


r.08 


ECCLKSIASTICAL  III' 


not  the  luxury  of  si  bed,  while  f  :i  and  ni<;lits  together 

J  had  not  an  opi)ort unity  of  reeliin..„  even  on  the  thwart  of 
the  hoat ;  1  had  not  I)een  able  for  days  to  take  olf  my  elolhes  ; 
1  seidoni  met  Avith  better  fare  than  a  hard  .sea-l)isenit  and  a 
lillle  li>h,  sonieliines  a  l)it  of  fat  pork  out  of  the  pieUle, 
while  I  had  not  an  oj)i)ortunity  of  indulging  myself  in  my 
exiiaustion  witii  a  single  glass  of  wine;  no  variety  of  food 
whatever,  exeejjt  when  the  men  would  land  on  some  desolate 
rocky  iskuid,  and,  robbing  the  sea-fowl  of  their  eggs,  strike 
a  fire  and  ro:ist  them  on  the  rocks  ;  while  at  the  sauK!  time 
the  stench  of  the  ])oat  from  bilge-water,  mixed  with  jnitrid 
tlsh,  so  aU'eeted  my  stomach  as  to  induce  a  seven*  bilious 
attack,  which  developed  itself  upon  my  return.  Add  (o  this, 
that  1  have  oidy  painted  oiu"  hardships  by  sea  ;  but  if  I 
described  our  wandm'ings  by  land,  crossing  ))athless  promon- 
tories, and  winding  round  l)ays,  through  forests  and  morasses, 
frc(iuently  when  batlunl  in  perspiration,  and  fainting  with 
exhaustion  under  a  burning  sun  ;  obliged  to  plunge  into  a 
river  to  wadc^  across,  and  tluui  unable  to  change  till  our 
clothes  had  dried  on  our  backs  ;  our  shoes  worn  from  our 
feel,  and  our  clothes  in  tatters,  torn  by  the  thick  underwood, 
—  you  may  form  some  idea  of  the  dilliculties  of  our  Mission. 

"  liut  why  should  I  close  this  without  acknowledging  the 
warmth  of  feeling  exhibited  to  us  in  King's  Vow.  by  Mr. 
Mullowney,  of  Cork,  a  gc^iUlenian  truly  worthy  of  re{)resent- 
ing  John  ]\[acbraire,  Esq.,  of  Tweedhill,  in  B(>rwickshire,  son 
of  the  late  warm-hearted  James  ^lacbraire,  Esip,  the  most 
opulent  mei'chant  of  this  country,  and  one  of  llu^  most  benev- 
olent founders  of  tlu^  '  IJenevolent  Irish  Society,'  always 
remarkal»le  for  the  nuniiticence  of  his  donations  to  the  [)oor 
and  his  kindness  to  the  Catholic  clergy. 

"  Mr.  Mullowney,  Mr.  Macbiaire's  agent,  received  us  with 
all  that  cordiality  which  marks  his  character,  and  tried  every 
means  in  his  power,  and,  in(le(!d,  with  considerable  success, 
to  alleviate  our  suderings.  Here  we  enjoyed  eomfoits  that 
those  only  can  appreciate  who  have  i)assed  days  and  nights 
together  ever  sitting  in  one  spot  and  in  one  jjosturo  without 


OF  NEWFOUNDLAND. 


309 


daring  to  move,  and  even  ihon  only  varying  l)y  snaU'liing  a 
hasty  r(>j)i)so  .stretched  at  the  bottom  of  a  lishing-ljoat,  or 
upon  the  hare;  surfaces  of  the  hard  rock.  A\'e  did  enjoy  th(! 
kindness  of  Mr.  INIuilownt'y,  hut  yet  not  alone  in  his  hospi- 
tality, hut  when  we  were  forced  to  move  for  another  hai'bour, 
he  had  a  boat  i)rei)ared  for  our  recei)tion,  the  master  and 
crew  of  which  were  directed  not  to  leave  us  until  wo  had  lin- 
ished  our  tour  ;  and,  in  compliance  with  his  injunctions,  they 
brought  us  to  the  several  harbours  in  Trinity  Uay  we  intended 
to  visit,  and  at  length  retiu'ued  to  King's  Cove,  after  bring- 
ing us  to  l)ay-de-\'erds,  in  Conception  Bay,  where,  after 
having  made  a  visitation  of  the  dill'crent  harbours,  we  closed 
our  wearisome  wanderings  for  the  season.  AVhile  speaking 
of  Mr.  ]Mullowney,  I  imist  not  omit  to  acknowledge  the 
])()lite  attentions  of  Mr.  Drawbridge,  of  Greenspond,  the 
res])ectal)le  agent  of  Air.  Carland,  of  the  house  of  (ieorgt;  K. 
Kobinson,  Brooking,  (Jarland,  &  Co.,  who  received  us  with 
the  warmest  hospitality." 


"Having  sutTercd  severely  during  this  visitation  from 
being  obliged  to  make  long  passages  aci'oss  the  bays  in 
small  oar-boats,  where  it  was  impossible  for  hours  to  change 
posture,  one  nuist  of  necessity  kce})  sitting,  for  to  stand  uj)- 
right  would  be  to  endanger  the  lives  of  all  by  overturning 
the  boat.  Then  to  be  obliged  to  pass  whole  days  and  nights 
in  this  miserable  plight  was  more  than  my  constitution  could 
bear,  and  for  some  months  after  my  return  I  found  myself 
in  a  very  delicate  state  of  health."  He  d(>termin<ul,  there- 
fore, to  have  a  small  schooner  of  about  thirty  tons  built  for 
himself.  "  The  thought  of  so  great  an  enter[)rise,"  he  says  in 
his  '  Rda::ione,''  "  at  lirst  frightened  me  ;  but  I  undertook  it, 
contiding  in  Heaven,  which,  as  it  had  helped  me  hitherto, 
would  not,  I  felt,  abandon  me  now. 

"■  I  gave  directions  to  have  a  small  vessel  built  of  about 
thirty  tons  burden,  and  this  vessel  was  not  ready  to  sail  until 
the  middle  of  July,  for  which  reason  I  was  compelled  to 
abandon  my  lirst  intention  of  visiting  the  northward,  and 


;no 


ECCLKSIASTICAL   HISTORY 


(■(>iis(>(iiu'ntly  was  ohIipMl  most  rcliictaiilly  lo  disappoint  \\w 
Indians  ;  l»ii(  as  I  was  already  aware  that  Ihoy  were  a  i>e()[)l(! 
oxeocdin^Iy  jealous  of  tlie  least  alteni])!  to  dtiiHMVi!  tluMn, 
lest  they  .sliouhl  happen  lo  l»e  siihjeeted  lo  any  inconxcnieiiee, 
or  to  I'eel  any  ainioyauee  at  not  lindini;'  nie  at  the  time  and 
l)Iaee  of  nieetinif,  1  sonii'lil  and  I'oiind  an  opportunity  ol" 
ac(jiiainlini:'  them  ol"  the  eirciimstance  ol"  my  detention  and 
('onse(|ii(Mit  ('hanij^e  of  route,  and  told  tliem  I  would  certainlv 
nuH't  them  in  tli(>  I'ay  of  l)c>spair  aliout  the  close  of  that 
month. 

"'{"he  noon  ol"  Friday,  duly  17,  18,').'».  l"ound  me  weiuh- 
iiiu,-  anchor  on  hoard  the  little  schooner  'Madonna,"  with  a 
crew  consistiii'ij  of  throe  haiuls  and  the  sl<ip|)er,  accompanied 
by  tlu^  Kev.  C  Dalton,  pastor  ol"  II;irl)our  (irace,  who  had 
been  the  zealous  and  unllinchinLT  ('omi)anion  ol"  my  toils  the 
year  before,  and  the  ]ie\ .  M.  lierney,  pastor  of  Ib'uin  ;  and 
althouiiii  our  deck  was  encund)ercd  with  a  thousand  feet  of 
board,  or,  as  we  call  it  here.  Iinn/xw,  we  saileil  out  of  the 
harbour  in  uallant  style,  and  in  a  l"ew  minutes  clearcMl  the 
southward  point,  and  in  an  hour  ca-t  .'inchor  in  the  liarl)our 
of  P<'lty  Ilai'bour,  and  discharii'i'd  our  hunl»er  for  the  chai)(d. 

'"fhis  little  town  is  within  ilw  di-trict  or  ])arish  of  St. 
John's,  and  al»out  eiizht  miles  distant,  and  separated  from  it 
by  a  I'oad.  or  rather  jiath,  that  is  hardly  passable  but  in 
winter.  The  entrance  to  the  harl)oui'  is  esteemed  dan2:erous, 
but  the  harbour  still  alfords  irood  anclioray-e  and  shelter  fi'om 
every  wind.  Lik(^  almost  all  other  towns,  tluu'e  arc  no 
streets,  but  the  houses  stand  irregidarly  scattered  al)out  ; 
but  there  is  here  this  peculiarity,  Avliich,  indeed,  occurs  in 
one  or  two  other  ))lae(>s  in  the  Island  also,  that  the  site  of  the 
town  is  so  very  rocky  as  not  to  alTord  sulHcii'ut  earth  for  the 
raisins:  of  one  month's  sui)i)lv  of  \'eiretal)les  for  the  iuhabi- 
tants.  liut  as  I  may  again  advert  to  this  [)laee,  I  shall  pro- 
eee<l  with  my  narrative, 

"The  wind  that  served  to  brinii'  us  into  Petty  Harbour 
would  not  answer  to  (ak(!  us  out  aj:ain.  AVe  were  compelled 
to  tarry  there  for  the  remainder  of  that  day  and  the  entire 


■  'am'°gia:ar<ig;gw«a%f)tJi?T»i>' . 


OF   N K\V VOV N DLA ND. 


311 


of  Siiturdiiy,  and  on  Siiiiday,  id'tcr  Iiaviiii;  od'crcd  tho  Divine 
Sacrilicc,  \\c  aii'aiii  set  sail  t'oi' the  .southward  ;  liiil,  llw^wiiid 
a<rain  licadinii:  us,  we  wcic  ()l)liii'('(l  lo  put  into  I'Vri'vlaiid, 
wliicii  place  we  were  n(»t  aide  to  make  until  alioiit  noon  on 
Monday,  altlioiigli  distiint  IVoni  I'ctty  llarljour  only  aliout 
nine   Icairucs. 

'"riiis  liai'hoiir  allords  (|iiit('  a  conti'a^t  to  I'ctty  IIarl)onr: 
in  the  latter,  to  the  very  water's  edire,  where  the  hills  do  not 
come  down  preeipit(»usly  lo  the  shore,  the  hnid  is  covered 
M'ith  innnense  masses  of  stone  iiiil)cdded  upon  a  foundation 
of  solid  I'oek.  so  that  yon  would  he  inclin'ed  to  think  that  it 
was  almost  necessaiy  to  exe'cise  inu'cninty  in  oi'der  to  dis- 
co\'er  a  site  lor  a  house  ;  and  as  for  gardens,  I  liclieve  the 
liirircst  in  I'ctty  Ilartiour  would  hardly  nicasui'*'  ten  yards 
sipuirc.  and  c\cn  to  these  the  only  nu-ans  ot'  conveyinjj; 
manure  is  on  men">  Iiacks  up  steep.  erai:i:y  ])recipiees  ;  Avhih; 
in  Ferryland  you  lind  yourself  in  the  nd<lst  of  a  suiilin;^' 
country,  the  iimnediate  ueiiilihourhood  of  the  town  Hal  and 
fertile,  hut  surrounded  hy  hii:li  and  sterile  hills. 

"The  harhonr  itself  is  rather  capacious,  heinir  al)out  three- 
(luarti'rs  of  a  mile  wide  when  you  |»ass  an  island  that  stands 
at  the  entranc<'.  called  Isle  du  Uois.  It  is  well  sheltered, 
except  to  the  north-east,  and  allords  i^'ood  aiu-horaii'e  ;  hut 
the  winds  from  the  north-east  produce  a  hi'avy  and  danger- 
ous swell  within.  The  hou>es  here  are  i^euerally  more  com- 
fortahlc,  and  here  several  larii'c  I'onccnis  iwo  fallini;  to  decay, 
owinii"  to  the  declension  of  the  tishery.  which  h;id  hcen 
lornierly   carried  on   with   i^rcat   spirit   on  this  coa-t. 

"I  had  not  intended  lo  luit  into  Fi'rryland,  at  least  until  I 
should  l»e  returninu'.  hecause.  as  the  sununer  was  rather 
aihanced,  I  preferred  pu>hiuii"  on  as  (juiekly  as  possible,  to 
<2.ive  an  opportunity  to  lho>e  in  sipu-stercMl  r-ilualions,  who 
had  never  had  the  /^ratitication  of  sccini:'  their  Uishops,  of 
approaching"  the  Holy  Sacrament  of  Conlirmation,  and  as  I 
had  a  few  years  before  administered  Conlirmation  in  that 
harbour,  I  was  not  so  anxious  on  their  account  ;  and  for  these 
reasons,  when  I  did  huul,  1  found  the  people  not  prepared, 


'  I.  ^ 


I   f 

II 


ill 


•M-2 


KCCLKSIASTICAL    niSTORY 


Mild  (he  clcr^jfyiUMii,  tlic  K'cv.  Timothy  Brown,  ahscnl,  and 
IhorcCon!  I  took  a  Itoat  and  prococcUMl  lo  Fcnnciisc,  al)()ut 
lour  niih's  west,  and  havinj;  chanced  lo  meet  (ho  llvv.  J. 
Dnll'v,  th*'  cnra(c  ot'diis  dis(iic(,  as  I  was  stei)i)ing  on  hoard, 
(,hat  reverend  <;en(lenian  accompanied  lis. 

"He  had  heen  i)i'epai'ed  (o  receive  ns  at  Fermcnse  ;  and 
w'h(Mi,  upon  my  arrival  there,  I  proceecU'd  (o  examini;  (iioso 
whom  he  had  instructed  upon  the  importance  of  the  Sacrament, 
and  (h(!  dispo.si{i()us  necessaiy  to  receive  it  woHhily,  I  was 
;iiatilied  lo  lind  that,  amonix  one  lumdred  and  (wenly  indi- 
vichials,  (hen-  was  not  onc^  who  did  not  "jrive  ahundant  proofs 
that  a  zeah)us  and  in(h'i'atiu'al)le  (eacher  iiad  found  a  docilo 
and  susceplihlo  con^ireuation,  and  (hat  {\w.  seeds  which  (he 
Kev.  J.  Dulfy  seaKered  had  not  faHen  by  (he  '  roadside; '  or 
'amon^  (horns,'  but  liad  been  hiid  in  a  fruitfid  soil,  and  prom- 
ised an  abinuhint  harvest. 

'■  On  (he  next  day,  Tuesday,  Ihc  21st,  afler  iiavinuf  olferod 
(lie  Divine  Sacrilice  of  (he  Mass  at  (iu;  chapel,  and  exh()r(ed 
a  (h'nscly  crow(U'd  conixr(\!i'a(ion,  I  a(hninistered  ('()ntii'nia(iou 
(o  tha(  munbcr,  and  innne(lia(ely  af(er  sent  forward  a  mes- 
scniii'er  to  ac(juaint  (he  i)eoi)h'  of  llenews  that  I  should  visit 
that  harbour  next  morniiiij^. 

"On  (he  mornini:'  of  Wedn(>s(hiy,  22d,  havinir  made  our 
matin  odcrinii"  of  the  IIolv  Sacrilice,  we  ai;ain  took  boat  for 
Jvenews,  about  four  miles  dis(an(,  and  entered  the  hai'bour 
aI)ou(  noon.  This  is  a  poor  (lshin<^  harboiu',  but  inhabited  by  a 
very  intclliireni  people  ;  and  hero,  as  w(dl  as  in  Fernu'us(%  (he 
Rev.  J.  Dully 's  zeal  in  the  promolion  of  relitrion  is  manifesled 
in  (he  construcdon  of  a  eoniinodious  church,  atlaclied  to  which 
will  be  a  comfor(able  residence  for  the  cleriiyman.  I'ho 
l>eopIe  Ikm'c,  too,  T  found  exceedingly  well  ins(ruc(ed,  and 
all  (he  chiUlren  well  ac(|uain(ed  with  (heir  Catechism,  owing 
to  the  unaided  exertions  of  (he  same  reverend  <;entleman  ; 
and  on  the  followiuij:  mornin<r,  Thursday,  2.')d,  I  administered 
Conllrmalion  to  one  luuubvd  and  forty  jjorsons,  a  larne  pro- 
})orli()n  of  whom  were  converts  to  our  holy  relijiion. 

"  From  this  i)lace  we  returned  the  same  day  to  Fermeuse, 


01'-   NEWFOUNDLAND. 


31.'i 


wluMT,  Iiaviiiir  n>sn\n  cnjoyctl  the  liospitiility  of  Mr.  Ncill,  \\v. 
joined  our  liltlc  vessel,  :im(1  oii  lliu  next  day  we  proceeded  on 
onr  voyiiii'e  ;  hut  luivinir  ni'rived  iit  Trepassey  Hay,  wo  <;ot 
eonipletcdy  hoealnied  and  envelo|)ed  in  a  dense  i\)<x,  and  there- 
fore! I'onnd  it  necessary  to  come  to  aneiior  nndcr  Cape  I'ino, 
tlu!  western  entrance  of  tlu;  l)ay.  This  Ixinij;  a  most  (hin^ifcr- 
(uiM  shore,  we  tooU  advantaiic  ol"  a  liiiht  ltree/(^  thai  sprniii^ 
n))  (hirinijc  the  niixhl,  and  <:()t  nnder  wei^ii  once  more;  l)ut 
al't"r  a  sliort  time  the  wind  died  away,  and  \\v  ai^ain  ;;ot 
becahned  at  the  eiil:anc(!  of  this  hay,  whi^re  the  tide;  runs 
eiiiht  knots  an  honi . 

'' Th((  ninhl  was  intens(dv  (hirU,  and  wo  contimied  (hiftin<; 
for  a  considcralih'  time,  when  we  were  alai'ined  Ity  tiie  cry  of 
tlie  seamen,  '  IireaUeis  astern  !  '  and  inunedialcdy  we  conhl 
distinctly  hear  \\\c  snllen  roar  of  tho  surirc  as  it  rushed 
ai>aiiist  the  rocks,  and,  IjreakinUi  <hished  its  foam  into  the  t'm'v, 
of  heaven,  as  if  in  an;i'er  at  the  interruption;  and  inevitaI)lo 
death  seemed  to  threaten.  ^^  e  let  }io  our  kedu'e  anchor,  but 
the  force  of  the  tide  and  the  violence  of  tho  swcdiinu:  waves 
rendered  it  of  little  avail;  yet  was  it  not  altoucther  useless, 
for  by  pullini:'  upon  the  haws(>r  we  brought  lier  head  a  little 
around,  and  then  cutlinn'  away  oui'  anchor,  a  sliiiht  aii'  of 
wind  s[)rinuinii"  up  at  the  s:un(^  monuMit,  our  vessel's  side  all 
but  touched  as  she  drifted  ah)nii'  a  ridii't' auainst  which  wo  had 
liecn  rinmini:':  and  in  this  miumer,  at  tins  expense  of  oni* 
anchor  and  cal)lc,  were  we,  by  the  interposition  of  Divine 
Mercy,  saved  from  a   fcarfid  and  instantaneous  death. 

"  \\\'.  now  sailed  with  a  lair  wind  for  onr  destination  ;  but 
a<>ain  in  a  few  hours  it  altered  ;  and  altera  fatijiuinj;  passajje 
of  nearly  three  day^.,  we  arrived  on  tiie  morninji'  of  die  'iTth 
July  at  r>uriii,  into  which  jjlace  1  lu'xt  put,  and  where  1  n;- 
mained  an  entire  week. 

"At  liurin  W(!  enjoyed  the  comfortable  fireside  and  coi'dial 
welcome  of  the  companion  of  our  voyau'c,  the  licw  Mr.  IJcr- 
ney  :  and  as  tho  entire  popidation  of  that  portion  of  tho  dis- 
trict which  lies  alonj;' tlu!  western  shore  of  Placentia  IJay  is 
scattered  over   an    imnieuse    number   of  islands,    wo    wore 


.314 


ECCLESIASTICAL   HISTORY 


obliircd  to  (lofcr  Ihclimc  of  iulministrrinu;  Confinnntion  there 
to  the  ioUowiiii;  8uii(l:iy,  llu>  riitire  week  Ix'iiig  riMjuisitc  to 
advertiser  llici  jjcople  mikI  hrinijf  llieiii  toixellier. 

"IJiii'in  is  Mil  i>l'iii(l  ;il)oiil  tlirce  miles  in  lenu'lli,  and  Iviiiii' 
noi'th  iiiid  south,  iiearl}'  a  mile  from  the  iiiainlaiul,  and  ahoiil 
it  you  fuid  a  iaru-e  uumher  of  islands,  some  of  Avhicli  are 
covered  with  wood;  and  tlu>  population  u})ou  these  is  so  thin 
and  scattered  that  one  friend  cannot  visit  another  hut  hy 
boat.  'Jlie  Island  of  lUiriu  is  for  the  most  ])ait  a  solid  rock, 
scarcely  allnrdini:'  anytiiinii'  like  ])as(ure;  and,  in  some  in- 
Ktances,  th()>e  who  wish  to  enjoy  the  comfort  of  a  i^arden  at 
ilicii"  house  nuist  brinii"  soil  from  other  places,  and  we  used 
while  there  V(>i:'etabh,'s  raised  hy  our  respcc't(>d  host  in  a 
garden  so  created. 

"  rpon  coming  ashore,  I  was  most  agr(M'al)ly  surpi'ised  to 
find  that  Jill  my  anticipations  of  the  state  of  the  ("Inirch  and 
the  parochial  residence  of  the  clei'gyman,  etc.,  wwc  sur- 
passed. ']'!k>  hold  ])()sili()n  of  the  church  —  its  site  being 
ii[)i)u  a  ^■cry  commanding  height,  rising  almost  precipitously 
from  the  shore:  its  neatly  fmished  (iothie  Aviudows;  the 
tasteful  manner  in  which  it  is  painted  ;  the  >im))le  and  chaste 
style  of  the  altar  ;  the  neatness  around  you  at  all  sides;  the 
liandxime  and  light  gallcrie>  :  and,  t'  ii.  the  sacred  hal)ili- 
ments  of  (he  clergyman, — all  giatilied  n.e  in  the  extreme, 
and  found  the  most  pleasing  commentary  upon  tli(>  piety  and 
zeal  of  that  rcNcrend  gentleman. 

"The  hou>e  is  also  a  ^ery  n(\'it  and  comfoi'tablc  editice, 
adjoining  the  church,  and  with  a  handsome  and  wcll-laid-out 
garden,  which  runs  in  front  the  full  length  of  the  house  and 
chui'ch.  f(U'nis  an  ciiscinliJe.  truly  crcdiialiU>  to  the  ta>te  and 
in(lu>lry  of  the  IJev.  Mr.  I'ei'iicy,  and  jiresent  to  the  con- 
femplativi'  obserxcr  lli(>  most  I'oiix  incing  proof  that  tlu; 
virtues  of  the  pastor  are  \\(^ll  estimated   by  the  congregation. 

"On  Sunday.  August  the  2d,  the  testis  al  of  the  dedication 
of  St .  Mai'y  of  Angels,  a  large  congregation  assembled,  and 
after  liaving  celebrated  Mass,  at  which  an  excellent  choir 
assisted,  exiun'ted  those  who   wer(>  te)  l)e  conlirmed  on  the 


if 

'■■■ 


OF    NEWFOUNDLAND. 


31') 


iniportaiu'C  of  the  act  tlicy  wew,  alioiit  to  perform,  and  tlui 
lia[)py  results  llial  must  lollow  to  those  who  i-eceive  so  holy 
a  sacrament  ui(h  the  i)roper  disijositions.  I  ailministered 
Conlirmalion  to  ninety-tour  jx'rsons,  uho  had  heen  })re- 
viously  well  ])repared  and  instructed,  and  umonii'st  whom 
were  no  fewer  than  thirty-six  heads  of  families,  converts  to 
the  Ivoman  Catholic  faith  :  and  on  the  next  day,  Monday,  I 
apiin  administered  that  sacrament  to  twenty  pci'sons,  who 
came  from  a  i;i-eat  distance,  and  had  not  hccn  aide  to  reach 
iu  time  to  he  conlirmed  tlie  day  hefore.  makini;'  the  entire 
numl)er  at    liurin  one  hundred  and  liftcen. 

"JUnin  is  the  last  ecclesiastical  district  to  the  W(>stward  : 
it  commences  from  Little  Paradise,  in  IMacentia  Uay,  and 
runs  down  southward  to  ('a})e  Chapeau  Kouiic,  which,  with 
Cajie  St.  ^[ary"s  to  tin  east,  forms  the  entrance'  to  I'lacentia 
Pay.  heimi'  there  sixtecMi  jeaii'ues  and  a  half  wide.  From 
C'ai)c  Chapi'au  lvoui>e  it  strikes  to  the  westward  as  far  as  Cape 
Kay,  and  from  Cajie  Kay  rims  a^ain  north  even  to  IJelh^  IsK; 
in  the  Straits. 

"Uutwhat  facility  do  we  find  in  thus  defunmr  the  limits 
of  a  district  in  Xew  foundland?  How  easy  to  tell  you  that 
the  northern  district  extends  from  the  (irates  to  Cape  John  ! 
But  when  you  are  told  that  it  includes  the  vast  hays  of 
Trinity,  rxmax  ista,  CJander  IJay,  Uay  of  Exploits,  White 
Ihxy,  and  IJiiy  of  Xoti'c  Dame,  eom|)rehendin;x  a  coast  of 
prohahly  tweUc  hundred  miles  in  len^^i'th,  you  may  have 
some  idea  of  the  manner  in  which  the  duties  are  to  he  per- 
formed Iiy  tlu>  cleru'yman  ;  parlicidarly  when  you  learn  that 
in  many  hai'ltours  you  will  iind  no  more  than  two  families,  in 
some  only  one,  and  ii  larp'  numln^r  containinii-  less  than  ten  : 
and,  then,  the  vast  multitude  of  islands  similarly  inhahited, 
fiu-  which  the  t'oast  of  Xewfoundland  is  remarkahle. — you 
will  i)ercei\'e  cleai'ly  that  many,  very  many,  indeed,  in  those 
remote'  and  isolated  places  nm>t  (>f  necessity  appear  I)efor(^ 
the  eternal  throne  of  the  Most  Iliuh  (iod  unaided  l;y  the 
savinu'  graces  eommunicateel  iu  the  holy  sacraments. 

"  In  that  very  northern  district,  if  J  had  it  in  my  i)ower  to 


r>i6 


ECCLESIASTICAL  HISTORY 


i  1(1 


I'l 


have  two  adclitioiiiil  clcrirytnon,  one  to  place  in  Trinity  r>iiy, 
and  anotlior  in  Fortune!  Harbour.  Thoso  witii  tho  cKTirynieu 
at  ])rosont  in  Tilting  Harbour,  an.l  the  Kev.  X.  Devereux, 
in  King's  Cove,  in  Bonavista  Bay,  I  would  lioi)o  that  tiie 
poor  i)eoi)le  in  that  (juarter  would  be  attended  to  ;  but",  then, 
a  vast  majority  ot'llie  people  of  Triiihy  jjay  are  Protestants, 
and  the  few  Calholies  are  far  apart,  and  poor,  so  that  the 
elergyinan  allocated  there,  as  also  in  Fortune  Harbour,  should 
bo  su})i)orted  l)\  a  stipend  raised  elsewhere. 

"An  annoying  circiunstance,  but  one  which  will  enable 
vou  to  estimate  the  comfort  of  a  loduinu'  in  such  a  dwidiin": 
better  than  any  description  1  could  give,  occurred  to  me,  on 
my  former  visitsition  to  the  northward.  Yon  are  aware  that 
1  was,  on  all  mv  littUi  vovai^cs,  conlined  to  boats,  sometimes 
small  and  sometimes  large.  When  T  would  get  into  the 
lai'gc  class  of  boats,  I  could  enjoy  the  luxury  of  leaning  ;  for, 
with  my  back  naturally  weak,  it  was  my  grcat«'st  comfort 
when  iVced  from  the  stillness  of  my  })osition  in  the  smaller 
boats.  Indeed,  [  could  seldom  sit  upright,  but  kept  con- 
stantly leaning  forward  on  that  i)ail  of  llu^  false  deck  where 
the  peo})l»!  laid  the  board  for  our  meals  ;  and  even  while  par- 
taking of  their  ruiie  fare,  as  it  was  flung  out  of  the  |H)t  upon 
the  board.  —  for  it  usually  consisted  of  pork  and  lisli  boiled 
together,  ^vhich  they  call  '  lish  and  vang," — 1  coidd  not  re- 
frain from  such  indulgence,  even  though  at  the  "xpeuse  of 
my  coat. 

"At  length,  one  morning  when  1  arose,  after  having 
enjoyed  the  comfort  of  being  able  to  sleep  upon  a  IxmI,  I 
dressed,  and,  on  putting  on  my  coat,  fancy  my  surprise*  at 
finding  one  of  the  sleeves  literall3Maken  away;  but,  upon 
investigating,  I  found  that  the  reason  was  that,  my  bed 
having  been  upon  the  floor  of  the  hous(\  although  what 
might  \)y\  called  a  comfortable  one,  I  had  stulled  my  clothes 
along  in  the  spaces  to  keep  out  the  nuisiiuitoes  and  galley- 
nipj)ers,  and  that  the  sleeve  of  my  coat  had  passed  through 
the  interstices,  and  having  been  considerably  imi)regnated 
■with  the  juice  of  the  tishermen's  food,  ind)ibed   from  the 


OF   NEWFOUNDLAND. 


317 


'viing-board,' the  entire  sleeve,  from  the  elbow,  was  eaten 
away  by  the  doirs  or  the  rats. 

"On  the  niorniiiij  of  Tuesday,  August  4,  at  an  early  hour, 
our  bunting  was  hoisted,  and  the  Cross  floated  gallantly  at 
our  fore,  and  the  principal  i)e()i)l('  of  Burin  raised  the  Union 
and  their  several  house-flags,  to  eonii)linient  us  on  our 
departure.  When  we  got  under  way  we  were  gratified  by  a 
salute  with  camion  froui  the  battery  of  St.  Patrick,  and  again 
from  that  of  St.  (ieorge  ;  and  wlien  the  establishment  of  Mr. 
P;ige,  a  highly  resi)ectable  English  gentleman,  oi)en(Hl  upon 
us,  we  Avere  paid  a  similar  mark  of  respect,  and  in  a  few 
moments  afterwards  cleared  the  harbour  of  Burin,  and  bore 
away  for  Caj)e  Chapeau  Rouge  ;  but  having  made  the  Cajjc, 
and  stretched  a  few  leagues  along  the  shore,  the  wind  i)rov- 
ing  unfavourable,  we  were  compelled  to  steer  our  course  for 
St.  Peter's. 

"This  island  is  not  within  the  jurisdiction  of  the  Vicar 
Apostolic  of  Newfoundland.  It  is  a  small  French  island, 
about  a  dozen  leagues  from  ("ape  Chaj)cau  Ixougc;,  and 
the  cure  has  jurisdiction  innnediately  from  the  Holy  See. 
Here  we  arrived  the  same  evening,  and  having  i)aid  our 
resjjects  to  the  Very  l\ev.  Dr.  Olivier  and  his  uicalre,  M. 
Lamie,  we  dei)arted  on  "Wednesday  morning,  with  a  fair 
wind,  for  P)ay  I)esi)air,  and  on  the  evening  of  the  same 
day  anchored  in  Hermitage  Bay,  where  we  notiiicMl  to 
the  few  inhabitants,  and  among  them  the  old  man  of  the 
name  of  Long  of  whom  I  s})oke  before,  that  on  the  day 
after  the  morrow  the  Bishop  would  celebrate  ]\[ass  and 
admiuister  the  Sacrament  of  Confirmation  at  (Jaltaus,  the 
principal  harbour  of  Long  Island,  at  the  entrance  of  Bay 
Despair. 

"Nothing  t'ould  (M|ual  the  delight  of  these  [)()or  people  at 
hearing  thi^  coml'ortiiig  intelligence.  At  first  they  could 
scarce  give  it  credence  ;  but  as  tlu^  rinnour  of  our  intended 
visit  had  already  reached  them,  they  wei-e  easily  led  to 
believe,  and  shed  tears  of  joy  and  gratitude.  In  tiie  morn- 
ing we   sailed  over   to   Galtaus,   and  on    my  arrival   I   was 


318 


ECCLESIASTICAL   IILSTOHY 


;    ^1 


iiiii 


I/' 


jjolitciy  aocomniodtitt'd  by  "Mv.  CJiillop,  the  liiirIilyvospo('t!i1>lo 
nii'i'iit  of  the  lu)us(v  of  Ncwiiiiiu  ct  Co.,  willi  a  wlialc-hoat 
and  crow,  and  in  this  way  [jrocccdcd  myself  to  advcrti>('  tlic 
people  in  the  adjacent  coves  ;ind  liarhoiii's  of  my  arrival;  and 
short  as  was  the  notice,  I,  on  tiie  lollowinii'  morniiiLl;',  Ani^ust 
Till,  administered  C'onlirmation  to  lit'ty-tbnr  jx'rsons,  and 
received  two  converts  into  the  Chnrch.  Next  day  I  left 
(Jallans  for  Hay  Despjiir,  and  our  course  for  that  hay  was 
through  the  narrow  delile  or  strait  called  Long  Island 
Passaii'e. 

"  On  the  8th  of  Aiiirust  we  entered  tliis  iiassairo.  It  was 
a  deliirhtful  day,  aiul  we  ran  alonii'  hefore  a  liiiht  l)ree/.e.  at 
the  rate  of  live  loiots  an  hour,  throuiih  what  I  may  call  a 
beautiful  mai'ine  sivcnue,  ruimini:'  dui'  north  al)oul  twenty- 
five  miles,  and  liounded  on  bolh  sides  by  most  maiiiiificent 
forests.  The  sun  had  already  ascench  d  pretty  hi^'h  in  his 
course,  ami  as  we  I»rushed  alonu'  rapidly,  nearly  touching'  both 
shores  at  the  same  time.  I  thought  Nature  had  exhausted  all 
her  powers  to  render  the  scene  eiichantinu'. 

"The  shore  on  the  ri^ht  and  on  the  left  rose  ])recipitously, 
and  the  forests  literally  lumj:'  over  the  summit,  while  the  sun 
poured  throuii'h  the  foliage  its  liciuid  lii:ht .  uivinii'  an  e\i'r- 
varyini:'  lu>tre,  sheddim:"  an  eternally  chanii'inii'  charm  upon 
the  landscape.  We  i'elt  as  it"  we  were  touchiiiLf  an  luiexplored 
country,  where  all  thai  can  I)cautify  oi'  embellish,  all  that 
can  chet'r  or  animate  the  fai  v'  of  nature  is  ever  britihl  and 
evci-  NcrdanI,  and  where  darkness  and  sterility  are  unknown  : 
sut'li  waslhe  as[)ect  of  the  country  all  along  these  uiiinhabileil 
(roasts. 

"  ^^'Ilen  you  pa>s  Long  L'-landyou  are  in  the  centre  of  I'Say 
Despair,  which  lieic  spread.-  en>t  and  west,  and  thi'ows  its 
vast  aims  in  these  diri-ctions  far  info  the  land  ;  one  arm  as  if 
anxious  to  meet  withtiander  liay.  and  the  other  rushing  lo 
embractr  the  i)ay  of  Lxptoits,  lea\  ing  only  a  few  miles  of 
land  separating  the  extremities,  so  that  the  Indians,  parsing 
iVom  tlu'  northern  settlement  to  that  of  Way  1  )e>[)air,  have 
little  uKue  than  one  day's  journey  to  travel  liy  land. 


i 


\A 


OF  NEWFOUNDLAND. 


310 


"  Tlio  oastwiirtl  hraiicli  wjis  our  course,  and  avo  piissod 
along  the  coast  of  liie  cliarniini!:  Tsle  du  Uois  ;  and  sailing 
by  the  mouth  of  1/itlle  Kiver,  at  ItMiglh  cain(>  in  sight  of  the 
Indian  wigwams  at  the  entrance  of  Conne  KMver  early  in  the 
day.  Tiies(!  pri'sent  a  singular  ap[)eai'anee  to  thc^  stranger. 
Imagine  to  A'ourself  a  l;irii-e  colh'etion  of  tents  irreii'ularlv 
disjjosed,  constructed  of  long  straight  poles  stuck  in  the 
ground  and  coming  t()g(>ther  at  the  top,  tied  with  birch 
fastenings,  and  the  whole  kept  in  a  eii'culav  form  by  means 
of  hoops  within,  and  covered  with  the  bark  of  tr(>cs.  At  tlie 
<'nlrance  of  the  rivei'  a  high  sand-bank  runs  across,  lea\ing 
barely  I'oom  for  a  ncsscI  to  enter  the  pond  or  basin  wilhin, 
and  upon  this  jjeninsular  bank  are  those  conical  tents  or  wig- 
wams disposed. 

"ITpononr  aiiproacli  the  inhabitants  lied,  but  tlu^  instant 
we  hoisted  the  ilag,  on  which  a  cross  was  disj)layed,  to  the 
masthead,  conlidenct!  seenu  d  restored,  and  they  retui'ued 
from  the  woods;  and  what  was  my  annoyance  to  leai-n  that, 
although  these  ])0()r  peojjle  had  been  two  months  expecting 
me  in  this  i)lace,  Ibr  they  had  heard  of  my  intended  route  to 
the  westward  even  bctbre  they  recei\ed  my  message,  some 
ovil-disposed  ))erson  ac(|Uainte(l  them,  as  if  from  authority, 
that  no  cl(Mgyuian  would  >  isit  them  this  year. 

''A  few  men  and  women,  howcNcr.  I'ould  not  be  dissuaded 
from  waiting,  so  that  in  place  ot"  meeting  at  this  rendezvous 
from  two  to  three  hundred  Indians,  I  oidy  found  twenty- 
eight  persons,  whose  joy  in  seeing  us  was  testified  by  a  thou- 
sand little  innocent  e\lra\  agancies.  W'c  remained  with  tluMU 
till  the  I'ollowing  ^\'cdn('sday.  instructed  them  Ihi'ouLili  an 
interjireler,  said  Mas.^  every  day  in  their  wigwams,  heard 
their  confessions,  and  fmally  coiitirmed  twenty-seven  of  their 
num1)er,  the  othiu's  having  been  conlirmetl  titty  years  ago  in 
Canada. 

"The  simplicity  of  the  nianner>  of  thes(>  p(M)ple  is  truly 
interesting;  and  their  piety,  the  air  of  recollection  lh<'y  ex- 
hibit at  their  devotions,  their  attachment  (o  their  icligion, 
and  their   veneration   for   its   ministers,  are   edifying   in   the 


il 


I 


320 


ECCLESIASTICAL  IIISTORV 


cxtreine.  Tn  roarin<i;  their  chiUlivn  tlioy  aro  particularly 
caroful  lo  instil  into  tiieir  tontlcr  iniiuls  a  love  of  purity  and 
attachnu'nt  to  every  virtue.  Wlienner  they  settle  lor  a 
season,  tor  they  lead  a  wanderinji;  life,  the  first  thini^  tlx'y  do 
is  to  unite,  and  hy  their  joint  labour  erect  a  lar<re  wigwam, 
which  they  use  as  a  house  of  prayer  ;  and  should  any  of  their 
tribe  od'end  auainst  public  morals,  \n\  is  invariably  excluded 
from  this  c^hurch,  and,  in  some  cases,  is  never  apiin  perniitted 
to  enter  until  his  ollence  is  wijied  away  in  the  Sacrament  of 
Penance;  and  they  invarial)ly  observe  the  Sabbath  with  the 
most  scrupulous  exactness. 

"On  Sundays  and  holydays  of  the  year  they  invariably 
assembh;  toirether  in  the  morninu",  and  after  sin<i:in<;  the 
Ki/n'e  EJelxdii^  the  (Uorla,i\\\iX  6'rc(/o,  they  oiler  the  Rosary, 
and  some  other  prayers,  usually  occui)yiu<;  an  hour;  and  in 
the  alternoon  they  ai>:iin  meet  and  sin^u' \'espers,  for  they  have 
not  only  books  of  devotion  written  in  their  own  lan<:[uagc, 
but  also  the  princi[)al  hynms  and  psalms  set  to  the  Gregorian 
chant.  l>iit  the  curiosity  of  some  may  probably  be  excited 
at  learning  that  I  heard  thi'ir  confessions,  although  I  did  not 
uiiderslMnd  their  language.  The  mode  I  adopted  was  simple  ; 
and  as  it  deviated  tVom  the  manner  in  which  they  made 
their  former  conlessions —  being  through  an  interi)reler —  I 
shall  relate  it.  In  the  great  wigwam  or  church  I  caused  u 
[)artition  to  be  raised  of  deer-skin,  and  having  seated  myself 
'erDretcr  at  one  side  close  to  the  skin 


>y 


P 


and  in  such  a  way  as  that  neither  could  see  the  penitent,  who 
kiu'lt  at  the  other  sidc^  of  the  skin,  I  reached  my  liand  behind 
the  partition,  where  I  held  that  of  the  penitent.  I  now  put 
such  intcrroiratories  as  I  judired  necessary  throu<rh  the  in- 
terpreter  ;  and,  as  I  had  jireviously  carefully  instructed  them 
in  the  manner  in  which  they  \\.  re  to  conduct  themselves,  the 
rei)lies  wei'(^  given,  not  orally,  but  the  alHrmatives  by  a  gentle 
pressure  of  my  hand,  and  the  negatives  by  a  withdi'awal  of 
theirs.  In  this  manner  I  heard  the  confessions  of  the  whole. 
"And  now  canu;  the  period  of  departure,  and  nothing 
cou'.d  exceed  the  jrrief  of  the  entire  mimbcr,  which  vented 


OF  NEWFOUNDLAND. 


321 


itself  alt(M"natrly,  amid  siixlis  and  tears,  in  cntroalios  to  pro- 
lonii^  our  stay,  and  coniijlaints  of  the  shortness  of  our  visit; 
but  oil  the  niorninir  of  Wednesday,  when  our  colours  were 
hoisted,  and  they  saw  us  determined  to  sail,  they  all  turned 
out  armed  with  lonjjj  strand  <inns,  and  saluted  us  with  several 
volleys,  tired  with  the  most  unerring  exactness,  and  several 
fcitu  dejoio,  that  seer^ed  to  bet  ray  loni;  practi-'e.  The  dexterity 
of  the  women  in  loadinir  :ind  tirinir  these  heavy  j)ie(!es,  seven 
or  eiglit  feet  long,  was  particularly  annising  to  us;  and  as 
long  as  we  continued  in  sight,  these  warHU(!  compliments 
were  continued  quicker  in  succession  tlum  it  is  jjossible  for 
you  to  conceive. 

"On  Wednesday,  the  12th,  we  sailed  from  this  interesting 
tribe  for  (ireat  fJer»is  IIarl)()ur,  at  the  extremity  of  the;  bay, 
where  only  four  families  reside,  and  having  hoisted  our  Hag 
as  a  signal  to  those  at  a  distance,  —  for  we  had  here  no  means 
of  connnunicating  with  the  nc'ighbouring  harbours,  —  we  col- 
lected about  thirty  next  day.  of  whom  I  confirmed  t  wenty-four. 

"On  Friday  we  steered  for  St.  J\'ter"s  once  moie,  on 
our  return,  and  on  the  same  evening  cast  anchor  in  the  har- 
bour, where  we  i'xi)erienced  the  i)olitest  attiMitions  f>-om  the 
Kev.  J)r.  Olivier  and  the  local  authorities,  and  having  been 
pressed  to  remain  for  the  Sunday,  I  celebrat(>d  a  Pont  ideal 
High  Mass;  and  on  the  Sunday  following,  August  l<Sth,  set 
sail  for  Cape  Chapeau  Kouge,  and  entered  the  harbour  of 
Great  St.  Lawrence  the  same  evening,  and  as  a  i)racticable 
pathway  runs  from  (Jreat  St.  I^awrence  to  Little  St.  I>aw- 
reuce,  the  pco|)le  of  the  latter  j)Iace  were  soon  advertised 
of  our  coming  ;  but  as  I  was  given  to  understand  that  a  mes- 
senger was  des})alchetl  to  Lawn.  al)out  seven  or  eig  '  niles 
distant  overland,  where  one  or  two  taniilies  reside,  1  waited 
until  Thiu'sday,  when,  having  discovered  ihat  the  messenger 
had  not  gone,  I  was  under  the  necessity  of  proceeding  with- 
out them  ;  and  on  Thursday,  tln^  21th,  I  had  the  satisiaction 
of  administering  Contirmation  to  sixty-live  [X'rsoiis,  a  majority 
of  whom  were  converts  and  the  children  nf  converts  to  the 
faith.     Immediately  after  we  set  sail  for  Burin,  in  order  to 


■ ' 


322 


KCCLESIASTICAL   IIISTOKV 


Iciivo  llu'lJov.  ^\v.  I'ciiu'V  ill  homo,  jiiul  ri'iulicd  lliiit  liarhour 
on  lliiil  (>v('niii<r. 

"On  Friday,  1st  (if  Aiiii'iist,  we  Miilcd  tVom  I)iirin  lor 
(ii'cal  IMai'ciilia,  at  llic  opiio.site  side  of  liie  bay,  l)iil  much 
hiiilier  up  ;  and  liavini:'  reached  the  laltor  rather  late,  wo  stood 
oil'  duriuii"  the  uiiiht,  and  in  tlie  moruiui:",  the  wind  ])rovin;^ 
rather  hatlliiiir,  Mr.  ^Iur|)hy.  the  wortliy  aircnt  of  my  hiend 
Mr.  Sweetman,  wlio  had  received  instructions  from  that 
excellent  <:-eulh'iuau  to  make  our  sslay  in  IMacentia  as  com- 
lbrtal)le  as  [)ossil)le,  siMit  out  boats  to  tow  us  in.  and  early 
on  Saturday  we  cast  anchoi'  in  I'lacentia  Harbour. 

"On  Sunday,  the  2."»d,  I  administei'cd  the  Sacrament  of 
C'ontirmatioii  lo  oiu'hty  persons,  amongst  whom  were  many, 
and  ])articularly  several  of  the  most  respectable  inhal)itants, 
who  liad  been  converted  to  tiie  faith  ;  and  on  ^Monday  I 
a_i>ain  conferred  Confirmation  upon  twenty-nine  ])ersons,  who 
came  up  from  near  the  extremity  of  the  bay.  and  liad  arrived 
too  late  the  day  before,  ma kinii'  the  number  one  hundred  and 
nine  in  all. 

''On  Monday,  the  23d,  wc  sailed  fi'om  this  harl)our, 
havini:'.  durinir  our  stay,  received  the  kindest  attentions  in 
the  house  of  Mr.  Sweetman,  whose  absence  in  Ireland  de- 
prived us  then  of  the  pleasure  of  personally  expressiuiT  our 
acknow  lediiuients.  Jn  a  cou|)le  of  houi's  we  ii'ot  into  1/ittle 
Placenlia,  beinu' (>nly  aliout  three  leagues  to  the  northward, 
where  we  had  the  ])leasure  of  meetinu'  the  IJev.  'Mv.  \owIan, 
who  had  been  lately  appointed  to  that  disti  -t  ;  and  it 
all'orded  me  the  sinceiest  satisfaction  to  llnd,  both  here  and 
in  (ireat  IMacentia,  his  conirre<>ati()n  loud  in  praise  of  his 
cxeitions  to  allbi'd  them  the  comforts  of  religion. 

"  Ilei'c  we  remained  till  Sunday,  the  oOth.  These  live  days 
AV(>  passed  heariuii'  confessions  and  instrut'tiuii'  the  coniir(\iia- 
tion,  whom  we  found  well  j)repared  by  that  reverend  u'ciule- 
man  ;  and  never  did  I  meet  a  i)eoi)le  more  attach(>(l  to  their 
rcdigion,  or  more  devoted  to  its  ministers,  than  the  people  of 
this  entire  district,  and  on  Sunday  I  had  no  fewer  than 
ninety-four  to  whom  to  achninistor  Conlirmation. 


wt 


OF  NKWFOrNDLAND. 


323 


"On  ^Nrondiiy,  Au<;iist  31st,  avo  steered  our  eoursc  lor 
Iiiirreii  Ishmd,  near  the  head  of  the  hay,  on  the  western 
shore,  where  \vc  ai-rived  that  eveninir,  and  on  tlie  next  day  I 
contirnicd  sixty-two  persons;  and  as  the  day  was  consider- 
ubly  advanced,  and  I  at  leniith  heiran  to  feel  weary,  I  de- 
ferred our  departure  till  tlie  day  followinir,  when  we  sailed 
for  Meraelieen,  in  the  island  of  that  name,  which  lies  a  short 
distance,  about  ii  league,  to  the  southward  of  liarren  Island  ; 
but  thut  part  to  which  w.e  were  bound  being  seven  leagues 
distant,  we  reached  there  on  Wednesday  evening,  where  we 
remained  till  the  Sunday  following. 

"On  Sunday,  Seitteniber  the  fUh,  I  connrmed  eighty-six 
persons  in  this  harbour,  among  whom  were  twenty-six  who 
had  been  converted  to  the  Catholic  faith  ;  and  innnediately 
after  the  ceremony  of  the  morning  I  was  wailed  upon  by  two 
men  who  stated  that  they  were  Protestants,  that  they  were 
induced  to  accompany  their  Catholic  neighbours  out  of  a  frolic 
and  through  curiosity,  and  had  attended  that  morning  in  the 
place  when;  we  had  celebrated  with  a  propensity  to  turn 
everything  into  rNiicule,  but  that  the  instructions  there 
given,  both  before  and  after  Continuation,  dissipated  their 
errors,  and  convinced  them  that  ours  was  tlu^  true  faith. 

"  To  the  insti'uction  of  these  sincere  children  of  gr:ic(!  I 
devoted  this  day,  deferring  my  intended  departure  till  the 
next.  In  the  course  of  tlu;  same  day  a  third  individual  was 
added,  and  in  {he  evening  I  admitted  them  i)ublicly  into  the 
Church.  In  the  morning  I  administered  Contirmation  to 
twelve  persons,  including  these  tliri'e  converts,  whom  (Jod 
has  so  signally  rescued  from  the  ways  of  error.  Thus  was 
the  total  number  of  [lersons  conlirmed  at  Merachcen  ninety- 
eight.  Immediately  after  the  close  of  the  ceivmonies  we 
de[)arted,  bearing  away  for  St.  Mary's  IJay,  and  anchored  oji 
Tuesday  evening  in  St.  Marv's  Ilarljour. 

"Here  we  again  met  the  Kev.  .lames  Dully,  against  whom 
there  had  been  a  rmnor  circulated  that  i)roceedings  at  law  were 
instituted  for  the  alleged  o  tie  nee  of,  with  a  party  of  rioters, 
tearing  down  and  destroying  a  lish-tlake  on  the  i)remise.s  of 


m 


324 


ECCLESIASTICAL  HISTORY 


if* 

m 


'I 


I 


Messrs.  Sliulo,  Klson,  &  Co.,  at  St  Mary's,  who  have  a  largo 
concern  here,  over  whieli  an  ancnt  of  the  name  of  JMartui 
presides,  who  seems  exceedingly  ohnoxious  to  the  ))eoplc. 

"The  ilake  had  really  been  destroyed;  but,  then,  it  had 
occurred  in  (he  January  before,  and  we  were  now  come  to 
September,  and  it  ap[)eai'ed  to  me  that  this  charge  was 
merely  kept  hanging  over  Ihe  reverend  genlleman  and  the 
j)oor  jjcople  of  St.  Mary's  for  vile  party  purp()S(\s  ;  and  what 
tended  to  confirm  this  opinion  of  mine  was,  that  now  the 
Cii'«'uit  dudge  was  about  to  dose  his  labours,  after  having 
heUl  his  court  in  all  the  adjoining  harbours,  as  well  as  in  the 
liarl)()ur  of  St.  Mary's,  and  yet  tlu^re  were  no  informations 
lodged  or  evidence  taken  upon  the  subjcH't ;  and  therefore, 
under  such  circumstances,  1  thought  it  the  duty  of  his 
liishop.  where  the  character  of  a  clergyman  was  for  many 
months  made  tlu^  butt  at  which  to  level  every  foul  and  enven- 
omed shaft  of  the  traducer,  and  yet  deny  him  the  ])rivilege 
of  a  legal  investigation, —  J  thought  it  my  <luty  to  institute  a 
riii'id  inciuirv  into  the  circumstances,  the  result  of  which  was 
that  I  was  c()mi)elled  to  acpiit  both  the  i)riest  and  people 
of  even  tin;  substance  of  criminality. 

"  J  am  (|ui(e  sure  you  will  ac(|uit  me  of  any  intention  of 
imi)u<>'niiiir  v<>i'i'  knowled<»e  of  anv  of  the  lilierai  arts  and 
sciences  if  I  at  once  conclude  that  you  know  nothing  at  all 
of  !i  lish-ilake.  This  is  an  erection  raised  for  the  purpose  of 
drvin<;  tish.  In  this  counti'v  sea-b(>ach(>s  are  very  few,  so 
that  necessity,  the  i)arent  of  invention,  has  taught  the  jieople, 
as  it  were,  a  mode  of  creating  beaches,  even  amongst  the 
rudest  rocks.  A  number  of  shores  or  uj)rights  are  fixed  in 
the  ground,  and  upon  these  arc  nailed  a  suflicient  quantity  of 
beams,  by  which  the  whole  frame  is  iirndy  connected.  On 
these  beams  a  floor  of  wattles,  or,  as  we  call  them, 
'  longures,'  prol)al)ly  from  the  Latin  loiK/uriu.s,  is  laid.  The 
extremity  of  this  tloor  generally  rests  on  the  ground,  or  on 
very  low  stakes,  while  the  height  of  tlie  uprights  increases  as 
they  run  into  the  sea  or  to  the  water's  edge,  so  that  the  tloor 
presents  a  perfect  level,  sometimes  of  several  hundred  s(|uare 


OF  NEWFOUNDLAND. 


325 


feet,  aiul  then  it  is  covcM'cd  with  the  liirlit  tops  of  bouirlirt  tied 
down  with  hircli  iMsteniiii^s,  n\Hm  wliieh  tiie  lish  is  spread, 
and  in  this  manner  is  there,  wliere  the  beaeh  is  insutlicient,  a 
valuahie  sul)stitnt(i  provided. 

"In  St.  Mai-y's  Ilarl)our,  the  house  I  have  alluded  to  have 
very  extensive  premises;  and  their  airent,  Mr,  Martin,  <;ot 
into  the  IIou.->e  of  Assembly,  and  althouiih  jx'titioned  against 
by  tv,()  thousand  people  as  not  legally  (pialilied,  — not  bein<^ 
n  householder, — /tis  aim  vote  was  idloired  to  ver/afire  the 
motion  for  inf/uirt/  info  that  (/luilijiailion  ;  and  shortly  afltu" 
he  was  invested  with  the  eonnnissioii  of  the  i)eace,  —  the  oidy 
inaiiistrate  in  St.  Mary's  liay. 

"I  found  the  harbour  of  St.  Mary's  lik(\  almost  every  other 
harbour  in  Newfoundland,  a  eolleet ion  of  houses  built  at  ir- 
rejiuiar  distanees,  not  formin<;  anywhere  a  stniet  or  a  lane,  and 
eonunandin<i:  a  liood  beach,  l)aeked  by  risin<>;  ground  rather 
elear,  whieh  proved  useful  to  the  pco})le  for  all  i)ul)lic  pur- 
l)08es  ;  and  from  the  oldest  inhabitants  of  tlu;  bay,  men  more 
IhiM)  seventy  years  of  aue,  I  learned  that,  as  lony-  as  they  and 
their  fathers  renu'inbered,  this  beaeh,  and  the  mound  behind, 
were  rc_i>arded  as  publie  proi)erty  ;  nor  had  any  one  durintr  that 
innneuse  lajise  of  time  ever  laid  elaini  to  a  riuht  of  jjroprie- 
tarv.  On  the  mound,  many  years  airo,  had  been  ereetcd  a 
Catholie  ehureh  by  the  jx'ople  ;  but,  o\vini>'  to  the  ex|)()sure 
of  the  situation,  it  was  blown  down.  A  second  was  ei-(U'ted 
on  a  dillerent  site,  but  this  was  literally  blown  over  the  hill  ; 
and  now  the  peoi)le,  under  the  direction  of  the  Kev.  James 
Duily,  who  has  nuieh  distinguished  himself  by  his  activity 
in  urainjj  on  the  erection  of  churches  throughout  that  dis- 
trict,  di'termined  to  come  down  nearer  the  beaeh,  and  ex- 
cavate a  sit(i  for  tlu^  church,  and  thus  place  it  beyond  a 
possibility  of  meeting  a  similar  fate. 

"As  this  beaeh  was  the  only  place  that  was  not  occupied 
privately,  of  course  it  was  the  only  ])lace  of  landing,  not 
only  for  the  people  of  St.  Mary's,  but  for  the  inhabitants  of 
the  other  parts  of  the  bay,  who,  as  the  mouiul  wa*;  a[)i)r()- 
priated  as  a  public  cemetery,  required  the  use  of  the  beach 


f 


■ipiV  IK 


aatP'z:.. ' 


320 


ECCLKSIASTICAL   HISTORY 


!  ri 


HH  a  iMiliIic  passiiijo  ;  and,  aijain,  this  hcacli  and  this  mound 
Avcru  tho  only  phici's  on  whii'h  the  jx-opjc!  i-ouhl  claim  a  riu'ht 
to  spread  out  their  nets,  ete.,  tor  (h-yinu:,  or  on  which  they 
could  draw  up  their  boats  to  remain  for  the  winter,  or  to 
repair  in  tlu^  spring. 

"  In  the  winter  of  1834-5  it  8eoms  n  poor  man  named 
Fewer  ei'ccted  a  llaUe  on  a  i)art  of  tliis  heach  :  hut  scnrcelv 
was  it  up  when  Mr.  ^lartin,  the  magisti'ate,  hefore  day  in 
the  morning,  brought  a  party  to  cut  it  down ;  and  so  far,  I 
ai)i)reliend,  Ik;  acted  very  properly;  but  in  |)lace  of  stop|)ing 
liere,  ln^  eonunenced  at  once  to  run  a  new  llaUe  for  his  house 
the  full  IctKjth  of  the  beach,  thus  at  once  cult  ing  oil' tlu^  public 
from  a  possibility  of  conveniently  using  their  church  groimd 
or  their  cemetery,  and  (Ie[)ri\iiigall  tlu^  inhabitants  of  the  only 
place  on  whiih  they  could  haul  uj)  their  boats  and  cratt  in 
tlu^  winter;  and  llu!  natural  result  was,  that  as  the  m;igis- 
trate  li;i(l  clearly  shown  them,  in  the  instance  of  Fewer's 
flake,  that  a  public  nuisance,  and  obstructing  the  highway, 
may  Ik;  leuallv  removed  and  destroyed  by  any  ix'rson,  they 
proceeded  Avilli  the  erection  of  their  church,  occasionally 
jjivinii"  Martin  notice  to  remove  the  Hake. 

"At  length  the  church  Wits  tinished  ;  and  now  they  cut 
the  tliike  across  at  Martin's  boumhiry,  and  aiiJiin  noticed  him 
that  they  would  destroy  the  entire  of  the  new  tl.Mke  :is  it 
extended  from  this  cut  if  he  did  not  remove  it  ;  and,  seeing 
that  altt'r  the  lapse  of  several  weeks  their  notices  were 
unheeded,  the  entire  i)()j)ulalion  united,  and  in  llie  most 
orderl}'  manner,  exceedingly  unlik(>  riot  or  confiisiou,  delib- 
erately took  down  the  Hake,  ms  Mr.  Martin  had  done,  with 
this  tiid'ei-ence,  that  Mr.  Mint  in,  the  magistrate,  attackeil 
Fewei''s  tlakc^  by  night,  and  they  ai'ted  in  the  middle  of  the 
noondiiy  ;  Martin  tore  down,  without  any  ])revi()ns  notifi- 
ciition;  the  jjeople  having  given  ample  notice,  and  having 
taken  down  the  allair,  they  destroyed  the  lUiUerials. 

"This,  I  really  feel  convinced,  is  a  true  statement  of  this 
case,  uhii'h  hiis  been  made  use  of  in  the  most  ludiandsome 
manner  as  a  i)retext  for  insulting  and  maligning  the  peo[)le 


w«. 


OF  NEWFOUN PLAM). 


327 


()('  XcwfouiKllMiKl.  —  !i  people  proverltiiil  lor  their  obedieneo 
to  the  l.iws  of  ilieir  coiiiitrv.  \>n\,  altlioiiirh  this  ease  had 
eoiii|)lelel_v  died  away, — allhoiijrh  Tiionths  had  e!a|)sed  jmd 
no  inroi'iiiatioiis  weie  lodired,  —  ailhoujjfh  Ihe  Soiilherii  Circuit 
passed  o\(M',  and  the  Court  had  aetiialiy  held  a  session  in  8t. 
]\Iary's  lI;irl)our  itself,  and  on  the  very  spot  in  dispute,  ^vith- 
out  a  single  f|uestion  luiviiii:'  arisen  upon  the  subject ,  no  sooner 
did  the  honourable  the  ('liiel"  Justice  (Mr.  J»oultoii)  land  in 
St.  .b)hn"s,  on  his  return  from  Kn<.d:uid,  than  lu^  himself 
issued  a  warrant  auainst  the  jx'ople  of  St.  Mary's,  and  the 
Kev.  .Imuu's  Dully  was  arrested  by  two  connnon  catch[)oles, 
and  drajipMl  a  distance  of  many  miles  throuiih  a  country 
where  a  people,  thouiili  attached  enthusiastically  to  their 
clerii'V,  Liave  on  this  occasiou  the  stroni^est  proof  that  they 
are  laui:ht  to  reverence  the  laws  even,  if  possible,  more. 

"These  coiistMblcs  brouLrht  tlu!  reverend  lienllcman  before 
the  district  magistrates  of  Ferryland,  who,  upon  his  a])pear- 
anee  before  them,  could  not  resti'ain  themselves  from  <iivin<^ 
expression  to  their  satisfaction  at  havinir  '  eauu'Iit '  a  priest. 
He  iiave  bail  for  his  appearance  at  the  next  session  of  the 
Su]>rcnie  Court,  and  as  this  court  is  ludd  at  St.  John's,  ho 
at  once  saw  there  was  som(^  object  to  bo  gained  by  omitting 
to  have  him  tried  Ix'fore  the  Circuit  Judjro,  and  roservinij;' him 
for  the  Hon.  .Iud<4e  IJoulton,  because  such  was  the  facility 
to  ii'ct  witnessi's,  etc.,  when  the  trial  was  to  b(!  had  on  the 
circuit,  that  there  was  every  security  for  havinu' justice  done  ; 
and  he  anticipated  the  utmost  dillic-ulty  in  gettinjr  <i  parcel 
of  very  poor  men  to  volunli'cr.  or,  indeed,  to  consent  to 
come  in  anyway  to  St.  dohn's,  a  distance  of  a  hundnid  miles, 
in  the  de[)th  of  winter,  and  at  a  time  when  small-pox,  a 
disease  at  th<>  bare  mention  of  which  the  peoph;  of  \ew- 
foundland  shudder,  was  raii'injj;  there  with  fatal  violence. 

"  I'pon  the  opening"  of  the  court,  the  IJev.  ,bunes  Dully 
appeai'cd,  and  luiother  jjrisoner  with  him  ;  but  althouiih  he 
stated  his  readiness  lo  ine(>t  his  accusers,  unsui)ported  as 
he  was  by  a  sinirle  witness,  the  Crown,  —  for  it  was  made 
matter  of  prosecution  by  the  Attorney-General,  —  the  Crown 


r 


<npil 


WJlt  I ~ 


328 


ECCLESIASTICAL  HISTORY 


drew  l)!ick  and  adjourned  the  case  till  the  next  term,  upon 
the  ])lea  of  not  having  all  the  parties  accused  together;  so 
that  hero  was  the  priest  again  sent  away,  obliged  again  to 
walk  hack  to  St.  Mary's,  one  hundred  miles,  having  only 
four  days  before  acconii)lished  the  same  journey,  and  with 
Ihis  slur  u[)on  his  cliaracter  not  to  be  removed  before  next 
X()veml)(>r.  lUit  such,  unha))i)ily,  is  the  administration  of 
justice  in  Xewfonndland,  where  the  character  or  liberty  of  a 
priest  is  in  question. 

"  The  importance  of  this  subject,  and  more  particularly 
its  connection  with  the  objects  of  my  visitation,  one  of  which, 
and  perha])s  the  most  important,  is  to  ascertain  the  character 
of  the  ministers  who  have  the  charge  of  souls,  and  tlu;  man- 
ner in  which  they  fultil  their  high  trust,  nuist  be  my  apology 
for  obtruding  this  relation  upon  you;  but  it  will  also  give 
you  practical  illustration  of  my  former  observation,  that  the 
missionary  who  zealously  discharges  his  duty  in  Newfound- 
land nmst  exjx'ct  to  be  replenished  with  o))probrium. 

'"The  day  after  my  arrival  I  devoted  principally  to  the 
investigation  of  the  circui>istances  connected  with  the  il  ike, 
and  on  Thursday  morning  I  eontirmed  eighty-live  persons; 
and  as  ihs  was  the  last  place  at  which  I  intended  to  stop,  we 
set  sail,  after  Confirmation,  for  St.  John's,  where  we  arrived 
on  Saturday,  the  12th  of  September. 

"And  thus  we  closed  a  visitation,  in  which  we  had  under- 
gone the  greatest  labours,  tlie  greatest  hai'dships,  and  had 
more  than  once  incurred  the  greatest  dangers  ;  but,  never- 
theless. Heaven  permitted  us  to  land  in  safety,  and  with 
eom[)aratively  unimpaired  health.  And  now  I  sh:dl  close 
this  long  letter,  reserving  for  a  final  one  the  particulars  of 
the  dilliculties  that  awaited  us  at  home,  where  we  found 
small-i)ox  raging  violently,  while  the  i)eople  were  sull'ering 
from  extreme  ])overty. 

"I  am,  my  dear  Sir,  with  great  respect, 

"Your  most  ol)liged  and  very  humbl(>  servant, 
"+  MICHAEL  ANTilDXY  FLEMING, 

"Catholic  liiff/ioj)  of  Xeirfouudland,  etc,'''' 


wi 


OF   NEWFOUNDLAND. 


329 


"I  found  my  poor  peojjle,  upon  my  landing  in  St.  John's, 
sunk  in  the  uroiitest  misery,  owing  Vo  the  ravages  making 
among  tliem  hy  small-pox  ;  and  as  upon  the  breaking  out  of 
every  c[)idemic  it  is  the  humbler  classes  whose  poverty  first 
invites  disease,  the  poor  of  St.  John's  were  sufferers  indeed. 

"At  this  lime,  too,  the  utmost  anxiety  pervaded  the  pu])lic 
mind,  b(>eause  now  ai)proached  the  jx'riod  at  which  the  labours 
of  Ihe  fisliery  came  to  a  close,  and  when  those  who  had  toih'd 
through  a  long  summer  naturally  expected  to  meet  a  recom- 
pense in  the  same  manner  as  Ihey  had  been  accustomed  at 
all  times  before;  that  is,  from  tlu;  merchants,  for  whose 
advantage  they  had  been  toiling.  And  here  observe  that 
the  fishing-servants  form  the  most  immerous  class  of  the 
population  in  St.  John's,  numbering  over  four  thousand. 

"The  pers(m  who  hires  the  fishing-servants  is  called  a 
2)Jan(ei\  and  although  not  realli/  the  steward  of  the  merchant, 
yet  has  always  been  regarded  as  acting  in  that  capacity,  and 
therefore  the  Hsh  and  oil  procured  during  the  season,  through 
the  labour  of  the  servant,  has  ever  been  made  liable  in  the 
merchant's  hands  for  the  servant's  wages,  or  where  the 
amount  offish,  etc.,  taken  was  insufficient,  then  for  a  ratable 
proportion  of  the  jiroceeds  ;  because  the  planter  i>  most  eom- 
moidy  a  man  destitute  of  means  to  defray  the  expense  ;  as 
the  steward  of  a  nobleman  could  liot  be  imagined  to  be  a 
sufficient  security  for  the  wages  of  the  servants  he  engaged. 
This  has  been  always  the  mercantile  usage  on  the  sul)Ject  of 
servants'  wages,  and  it  has  been  strengthened  by  rei)eated 
acts  of  Parliament,  and  confirmed  by  numberless  decisions 
of  the  (\)urt  of  Sessions,  and  of  the  Sui)reme  Court,  under 
the  administration  of  Chief  Justic(>s  Iveeves,  Forbes,  and 
Tucker;  but  on  the  ^'oming  in  of  ,lndg(\  Uoidlon  Iw  reversed 
the  princi[)le,  and  exonerated  the  merchant  from  a  claim 
■which  relieved  several  of  them  of  many  hundred  pounds 
wages,  and  involved  the  wretched  people  in  a  proportionate 
degree  of  misery  and  destitution. 

"At  the  time  to  which  I  allude  the  lion.  Chief  Judge  was 
in  London,  and  the  utmost  anxiety  pervaded  the  poor[)eoi)le 


330 


ECCLESIASTICAL  HISTORY 


to  asc'ortain  Avhetlior  tlio  next  Circuit  Court  would  relievo 
tlicni  ;  but  ujion  the  courts  openiuiT,  it  bejran  to  be  rumoured 
that  tli(>  Chiet"  Judge  was  returning,  and,  therefore,  «Tudge 
Brentou  actually  refused  to  entertain  a  single  civil  case  lest 
this  question  should  be  called  up  ;  for  he  had  often  and  often 
decided  it  the  other  way  before  Judge  lioulton's  time;  and, 
therefore,  it  lay  over  till  Judge  lioulton  landed,  and  in  u  few 
dax's  a  linal  decision  dashc'  the  cup  of  h()i)e  from  the  1  ps 
of  many  thousands  who,  with  their  families,  Mere  looking 
to  his  fiat  for  means  of  supi)ort,  while  they  saw  their  little 
ones  dying  around  them  of  a  loathsome  disease. 

"  Here  was  a  tr^Mug  occasion  for  the  clergyman  who  pos- 
sessed humanity  to  calm  the  feelings  of  a  father  who  saw  his 
ons[)ring  j)erishing  with  want,  after  passing  the  sununer  in 
toil  and  hard;;hi|i,  many  hundred  miles  from  home,  to  em'ich 
an  individual  who  now  took  an  advantage  of  his  situation.  In 
justice,  however,  to  the  commercial  body  in  St.  John's,  I 
ought  to  nu'ution  that  the  greater  ])orti()n  of  them  scorned 
to  take  advantage  of  that  adjudication,  and  have  paid  with 
cheerfulness  their  servants*  full  demand,  —  an  act  of  Ixmk^vo- 
lence  which  will  be  long  and  gratefully  remeud)ered  by  the 
]K)or  peo])le. 

"But  lo  make  such  an  individual  as  the  one  above  described 
respect  the  laws  of  his  counlry,  to  convince  him  that  ho 
ought  to  respect  the  constituted  authorities,  under  whom  ho 
had  sull'ercd  such  wrong,  could  only  Ix^  ellected  by  mitigating 
the  atlli<'tion  and  soothing  the  wounded  spirit  of  the  individ- 
ual :  and  the  })riest  succeeded  in  restraining  them  from  the 
commission  of  acts  of  violence  or  outrage  so  far  that  ui'ver 
in  the  history  of  Newfoundland  has  there  been  known  less 
ci'ime  to  have  Ixum  eonnnitted  in  St.  fJohn's  than  during  the 
past  winter. 

"To  add  to  the  dilliculties  of  this  period,  so  very  many 
persons  who  had  previously  been  vaccinated,  and  some  more 
than  once,  had  fallen  victims,  upon  this  occasion,  to  small- 
poy  that  all  conlidence  in  the  eflicacy  of  the  vaccine  matter 
as  a  preventive  was  destroyed  ;  and  at  all  sides  they  began  to 


wi 


OP  NEWFOUNDLAND. 


331 


inoculate  with  tlio  naturiil  virus.  The  number  of  cases,  as 
slated  upon  tiie  eviilence  of  the  praetisini^  medical  men 
before  the  Grand  Jury,  amounted  to  upwards  of  six  thou- 
sand in  8t.  John's. 

"  About  the  first  week  in  Xovember  the  disease  In'ol^e  out 
in  Petty  Harbour,  one  of  the  viliaires  of  the  district  of  St. 
John's,  wliich  place  I  mentioned  before  as  havinir  l)een  the 
first  port  I  put  into  on  scttiuij  out  for  the  southward  ;  and  as 
this  place  is  entirely  occupied  by  peo{)le  eniiaucd  in  the 
fishery,  and  jirobably  ninety-nine  hundredths  of  them  fishina- 
servants,  I  at  once  saw  that  their  extreme  j)overty  would 
preclude  the  possibility  of  procurinix  medical  assistance,  and 
that,  for  the  same  reason,  I  knew  they  could  not  provide 
either  the  necessary  medicines  or  needful  nutriment. 

"In  such  an  emerixemy  what  was  to  be  done?  The  Ex- 
ecutive had  attem[)ted  nothing;  to  check  the  disease  or  to 
soften  its  visitation  upon  tlie  ])oor.  There  were  six  or  seven 
thousand  pounds  in  colonial  cotl'ers,  excess  over  tlie  year's 
expenditure  and  debt,  and  yet  not  one  sin<>le  f:nthin<j  was 
given  to  relieve  th(!  suHcrinu's  of  tlu^  afflicted.  There  was 
no  hospital  opened;  no  dispensary  instituted  or  recom- 
mend(Hl  ;  no  soup-house  founded  ;  not  a  subscrii)tion  o|)ened, 
even  though  some  five  oi'  six  and  twenty  thousand  pounds 
sterling  of  salaries  are  paid  amuially  out  of  the  public  taxes 
to  ])ersons  resident  princi[)ally  in  St.  .lolurs  ;  but  the  work 
of  death  was  ])rogrcssing,  and  the  terrors  of  pestilence 
blanched  everv  cheek. 

"Xay,  there  seemed  to  Ix*  arts  used,  I  will  not  say  to  spread 
the  contagion,  but  to  add  to  the  api)rehensions  of  the  pul)lic, 
and  to  increase  their  fears.  The  Chief  Justice  on  the  bench 
declared  it  the  duty  of  the  (iraud  JiU'y  to  indict  anyone  who 
came  out  of  a  house  wliere  jx'rsons  lay  ill  of  sniali-pox,  and 
actually  in  open  court  re[)roved  Mr.  Harding,  a  resi)cctal)le 
citizen  living  at  the  lU'ach,  whose  amiable  anil  highly  accom- 
l)lished  daughter  was  lying  ill  of  this  dis<>ase,  for  having 
come  out  of  his  house,  even  though  he  had  done  so  in  obedi- 
ence to  a  summons  of  the  Court  to  attend  upon  the  jury; 


332 


ECCLESIASTICAL  HISTORY 


i 


and  such  a  doetriuo,  at  a  moiiKMit  when  lumtlrods  Moro  froinsj 
from  door  to  door  l)oir<2:iii<r  old  linens  for  tlioir  childron,  their 
parents,  their  wives,  or  their  husbands,  or  food  or  clothing, 
or  other  comforts  necessary  to  (he  sick  or  the  convalescent,  was 
calcidaled  to  produce  nuich  discontent.  In  a  few  weeks, 
however,  the  diseas(>  visited  the  honoui'able  rludge's  family, 
and  he  appeared  abroad,  breaking  through  the  rules  he  him- 
self had  made. 

"But  I  have  said  that  nothing  was  done  to  check  the  dis- 
ease. I  was  wrong  in  saying  so,  for  as  soon  as  ever  it  I)(>gan 
to  attack  the  families  of  the  rcsjH'dalile  inhabitants  the  P'l}'- 
sicians  were  invited  by  the  Executive  to  attend  (/rafnifoi/sli/ 
at  a  house  formerly  occu[)ied  l)y  the.  St.  John's  Charity 
School,  and  for  which  no  rent  is  payable,  for  the  purpose;  ot 
vaccinating  the  })oor.  At  this  time  there  were  ujtwards  of 
two  or  three  thousand  persons  after  ha\  ing  undergone  inocu- 
lation with  the  natural  matter,  and  when  the  disease  exhibitcMl 
itself  as  on  the  decline.  However,  on  the  opening  of  the 
House  of  Assembly,  the  Governor,  in  his  speech,  asked  for  a 
grant  of  money  to  stem  the  progress  of  smaIl-[)ox  ;  and  a  sum 
of  tive  hundred  pounds  was  granted  some  time  in  March  or 
April,  when  not  one  case  existed  in  St.  John's. 

"Upon  its  l)reaking  out  in  Petty  H:irl)our,  I  went  to  that 
little  place,  as  I  was  unwilling  to  subject  the  excellent  family 
of  Mr.  Iveilly,  where  I  usually  lodged  (and  where  for  the  last 
forty  years  bish(>i)s  and  priests  have  always  i-eceived  a  wai-m, 
Avelconu',  coi'.irortable,  and  hos[)itable  home),  to  the  danger 
of  infe<'tion  through  nu^  1  resisted  their  kind  entreaties  to 
reside  with  them,  and  begged  the  use  of  a  waste  house  near 
our  church  ;  and  here  I  planted  ni}'  medicine-chest,  and  set 
it  up  as  the  village  dispensary  ;  and  here  1  stayed  for  the  re- 
mainder of  the  winter. 

"I  now  applied  myself  sedulously  to  the  improvement  of 
this  interesting  little  harbour.  1  was  engaged,  as  I  remai'ked 
before,  erecting  a  beautiful  little  church  here,  for  here  there 
is  a  congregation  of  about  seven  hundred  persons  ;  and  as  the 
cemetery  was  in  the  very  centre  of  the  little  town,  I  was  solic- 


OF  NEWFOUNDLAND. 


300 
00 


itoiis  to  romovo  it  tosomo  pV.wo  whoro  siifRoiont  soil  to  cov(M' 
the  l)0(li('.s  iiiiixht  bo  liud  ;  tor  as  three  jkm'sods  who  died  of 
thill  (IreMclful  di^so!lse  had  been  interred  l)efore  I  eame,  I  was 
apprehensive  thatdan<rer  inii>ht  arise  from  lcavin<i'  tluMn,  and 
allowinj.^  otliers  to  be  l)urie(l  in  some  i'lstances  within  three 
or  four  yards  of  tlie  doors  of  the  houses. 

"The  vicinity  having  been  explored,  a  place  perfectly  suit- 
able, and  at  aljout  half-a-mile  distant,  was  discovered,  and  to 
it  I  had  all  the  I)odies  forthwith  removed. 

"At  my  own  expense  I  purchased  a  ))iecc  of  irround  ad- 
joininsjj  the  ohl  cemetery,  in  order  to  make  it  a  useful  sipiaro 
for  the  public  around  our  church,  and  at  ureat  expense,  by 
blastinii"  the  rocks,  reduced  it  to  a  level,  so  that  it  forms 
quite  an  embellishment  in  a  little  place  when;  there  is  not  a 
singlf!  level  s[)ot  of  six  yards  sipiare  in  any  other  part 
of  the  harbour. 

"In  fact,  Avhat  with  the  building'  of  the  church,  the  pur- 
chasinii"  around,  the  eleariui^  and  levellinu',  etc.,  1  had 
expended  ui)on  that  little  town  upwards  of  eiuht  hundred 
pounds  ;  yet  did  it  1(MkI  to  brinu'  mori>  annoyance  ujjou  me. 
AMiat  was  my  sur[)rise  to  learn  one  day  from  the  (lovernor, 
upon  the  occasion  of  my  waitinir  on  him,  that  some  of  the 
Protestants  of  Petty  IIarI)our  had  just  petitioned  against  me  I 
I  then  found  that  they  had  been  worked  upon  —  for  they  and 
I  had  always  been  ui)on  terms  of  friendship,  nor  did  I  own 
any  dillerence  between  I'rotestant  and  Catholic  in  my  atten- 
tions to  the  sick,  or  in  the  gratuitous  ditrusion  of  medicine 
and  nt)urishin<i-  food. 

"The  Protestants,  then,  I  had  just  found,  had  been  worked 
upon  to  get  this  petition  up  to  prevent  my  tinishingthe  chapel- 
yard,  or  S(iuare,  for  its  professed  object  was  to  forbid  my  re- 
moving or  interrupting  the  repose  of  the  mortal  remains  of 
some  of  their  deceased  I'riends.  Even  Governor  Prescott 
himself  nmst  have  seen  through  this,  and  considered  it  got 
up  for  party  motives,  for  in  his  reply  to  my  otTicial  explana- 
tion on  the  subject,  he  reconnnended  my  waiting  until  those 
prejudices  should    be    removed    I)y    renionstrances ;    and  I 


,  .(..  UMliiy—pn 


WBmSBS^ 


33i 


KCCLESIASTICAL   IIIST01{Y 


ft: 


ti 


nm  sure  it  is  to  His  Kxcollcncv  I  owe  it  tliiit  tlicv  wore 
iilmost  iiiuncdialcly  ii'iuovcd,  and  one  ol'  tiioir  cIcrii'viiuM),  I 
understand,  was  pleased  to  appland  my  motives,  and  admit 
that  what  I  had  done  was  tor  the  imi)rovement  of  the  con- 
dition of  the  i)0()i)lo." 

Dr.  FU'ininir  spent  the  winter  of  lS3r)-r»  at  Petty  Harbor, 
assistinii  in  a  most  heroic  maimer  those  who  sulfered  tVoni  the 
small-pox.  He  retnrned  to  St.  John's  in  April,  and  on  the 
2()th  of  that  month  confirmed  "l,;>It()  persons,  ])rincipally 
children."  On  the  1st  of  ]\Iay  he  continued  ()<)2  in  'I'orba}', 
and  on  the  <Sth,  44i)  in  Portnual  (\)ve,  and  on  the  l")th,  418 
in  Petty  Harbor,  —  "  tlms  maUini:-  a  (otal  of  2,sr)4,  amongst 
whom  were  304  converts  to  the  faith." 


:i  .1 


"On  Friday,  May  27th  (this  was  End)er  week),  T  set  ont 
from  St.  John's,  at  seven  o'clock  A.]\r.,  for  Portniral  Cove, 
in  order  to  consecrate  tin;  Church  of  St.  l*atrick.  at  liriuus, 
at  the  other  side  of  Conception  Uay  ;  and  as  it  was  so  early, 
the  Key.  Edward  Troy  and  I,  with  two  or  three  lay  gentle- 
men who  accompanied  us,  forbore  to  take  our  collation  be- 
fore we  left  town  ;  and  when  wi>  arrived  at  the  Co\(',  the 
wind  was  so  inviting,  that,  promising  as  it  did  a  |)assago  of 
only  two  or  three  hours,  we  })referr«'d  start  in;/  immediately, 
and  stepjxMl  on  board,  having  just  barely  broken  our  fast. 

"This  may  ii'vo  you  some  idea  of  the  uncertainty  of  com- 
munication in  this  country.  There  was  not  on  l»oar(l  the 
packet  either  meat  or  drink,  for  what  need  of  ei  her  where 
you  could  see  the  landing-place  before  yon  ;  but  ha\  ing  Iteen 
becalmed,  and  headed  by  the  wind  afterwai'ds,  we  were 
tossed  about  the  l»ay  that  entire  day,  the  entire^  of  the  night 
followinsx,  and  arrived  at  our  destination  not  till  eleven 
t)'clock  A.M.  next  day,  when  we  landed  in  a  complete  state 
of  exhaustion  from  want  of  food. 

'* I  shall  not  tarry  to  describe  the  true  Irish  welcome  we 
met  from  the  peo[)le  of  Brigus,  or  their  tridy  good  pastor, 
the  Key.  Denis  Mackin.     Suffice  it,  that  we  continued  wind- 


OF  NKWFOUNDLAXD. 


33.-) 


1>omi(l  lioro  for  sovoval  dnys  after  tlio  consooration,  and  that 
on  tho  occasion  of  that  ceremony  there  assembled  people  ot 
all  creeds,  from  the  most  distant  parts  of  tho  bay,  so  that  so 
irreat  a  mnltilndo  of  people  had  never  before  assembled  In 
that  part  of  the  country. 

"On  the  followinii'  Sunday,  June  the  .Oth,  1  had  arranged 
to  conseci'ale  tlu^  beautiful  (Muirch  of  Corpus  Christi,  at  1\)i- 
bay,  erected  almost  soli'ly  at  the  expense  ol'tlu^  Jvev.  Kdward 
Troy,  a  missionary  than  whom  this  country  has  never  seen 
on(!  more  zealous  or  mon;  anUMitly  dcNoted  to  the  duties 
of  his  sacred  callinii'.  A\'e,  therefore,  sailed  \\u\  very  first 
favourable  moment,  and  on  Suntlay  consecrated  this  church 
for  a  truly  aood  coui:reiralion. 

"And  now  one  duty  more  remained  to  be  fullilled  l)eforo 
my  depaiture,  for  1  had  lonu'  promised  the  i)eo[)le  of  IIarI)our 
CJrace  to  take  the  earliest  o])portuuity  of  administerini;^  Con- 
tirmation  to  fhem  ;  and  in  order  to  comi)ly,  1  sailed  on  Tues- 
day, the  7lh,  aii'ain  accompanied  by  the  IJev.  Kdward  Troy, 
for  Carbonear;  and  here  I  arrived  in  a  few  hours,  and  on 
AVednesday  contirmed  uj)war(ls  of  six  hundred  jjcrsons  in 
Harbour  (irace,  amoniist  whom  were  many  converts  ;  ]»ut  as 
tho  next  day  was  wet,  I  thou_i:ht  that  children  could  not  well 
be  brouiiiit  on  that  morning  from  a  distance,  I  ]ni{  olf  tho 
Contirmation  of  Carbonear  till  Fiiday,  when  seven  lunidred 
persons  were  admitted  to  participate  in  that  sacrament,  ini- 
mediaU  ly  al'ler  which  Ave  set  sail  for  the  Cove,  and  arrived 
in  St.  .John's  on  tho  same  evening;  and  as  upon  my  arrival 
I  found  that  several  juM'sons  who  had  been  disa))poinl(Ml  on 
(he  former  occasion  were  now  well  jtrepared  here,  on  A\'hit- 
Snnday  I  confu'incd  four  himdrcd  individuals,  making  the 
total  in  the  district   of  S( .  .John's  3.i^")4. 

"And  thus  have  1  brought  this  narrative  down  to  the 
jieriod  of  my  departure  ;  and  I  ])ray  ardently  and  (>arnestly 
before  my  (iod  that  these  details  may  tend  to  induce  aften- 
lion  to  till'  spiritual  wants  of  an  interesting  I>ut  long-neglected 
l)eoplo,  and  awaken  the  good  and  the  wealthy  to  llu^  spiritual 
distress  of  thousands  of  souls  who  are  wanderiuir  without  a 


HI 


I  I    III— ipwwn 


«.'>»«k.«ti«i«auMiM'- 


M 


338 


ECCLESIASTICAL  HISTORY 


shepherd  around  the  ,«no\vs  of  the  Labrador  and  on  the  bleak 
coasts  of  Newfoundhmd. 

"Believe  me,  with    sentiments   of  esteem,  your  devoted 
and  humble  servant  in  Christ, 

"  +  MICHAEL  ANTHONY  FLEMING. 

"TuK  Veiiy  Hev.  Joiix  Spuatt." 


i 


w 


m: 


v—'ir 


OF  NEWFOUNDLAND. 


337 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 

TIIK   CATIIKDIIAL.—  [1830-1819.] 

Commenrnmciit  of  the  C'iitliedriil  —  T)ifficiilty  of  ()l)tiiiiiiii;r  Ground  —  Reception  of 
Dr.  Fleming,'  on  liis  Hcluni  fioni  Itonie — -I'lirtlRr  I)itliuiill'"i  ;ilii('i'(l  in  his  Wiiy  — 
lie  returns  to  Enj.'liin(l  in  AViuler,  1838  —  Correspondence  rcialin;,''  to  ('alliedral 
(iround  ^  ,\ssistiincc  tendered  by  the  Irisli  I'iilianicntary  I'arty,  O'Corinell, 
I.yncli,  Moore  O'l'.irrell  —  I'alher  Troy  Appointed  \'i('ar-(ii'neral  —  Lellir  fioni 
Dr.  I'li'uiiiitf  to  iiini  — Tiie  (iround  for  ('alli('(h'al  seemed — Kntliusiasni  of  the 
I'eople  — Miillins'  (iliost  —  Mickle's  "<'rool<ed  Furrou^'h."  —  Feneini^  in  the 
fironnd  —  I'rcparalion  of  Material  for  tlu;  Cathedral — Laying  the  Foundation 
Stone,  1811  —  Completion  of  the  Cathedral. 

HAVIXCJ,  by  llin  Introduction  of  the  nuns  and  the  cstub- 
lisliniont  of  tlioir  schools,  provided,  as  ^ve  have  said,  for 
the  uiovdl  /e)nj>/e,  —  the  huildinu'  up,  that  is,  in  the  iicarls  of 
tlie  eiiihlrcn  of  his  flock  tiiat  s[)iritual  edifice  whose  foinida- 
tions  are  laid  deep  tind  tinii  in  a  sound  religious  education, — 
Dr.  Fieining  iniinediately  turned  his  mind  to  the  great  and 
ab.sorbing  work  of  erecting  the  material  church  ;  that  is,  the 
great  cathedral,  which  stiuids  to-day  a  glorious  monmnent 
of  his  zeal  iuid  faith.  From  the  first  moment  of  his  episco- 
pacy he  had  held  stetidily  in  view  this  noble  project.  Ilis 
motives  and  sentiments  on  this  sul)ject  are  described  in  his 
letters  to  llie  Kev.  Dr.  A.  O'ConnelJ,  "On  the  State  of  T  jlig- 
ion  in  Newfoundhmd  :  "  — 


"I  am  engaged  in  the  construction  of  a  cathedral  on  a  scale 
of  unusuiil  elegance,  extent,  and  beauty.  I'lit  its  it  has 
been  said  by  some  that  it  is  an  imdertid<ing  ui)()n  my  part 
somewhat  approaihing  presumption  to  think  of  the  erection 
of  an  occlesiiisticid  biuldiiig  such  as  I  have  undertaken,  and  a 
building  of  stone  in  a  country  where  there  never  was  raised 
ii  single  temple  save  of  the  most  perish:d)lo  mat(>rial, — a 
building  of  such  an  extent  tuid  such  a  plan,  exhibiting  the 


iiiini 


338 


ECCLESIASTICAL  HISTORY 


1 1 


hcautios  of  sticli  arcliilcctiinil  dcsiiin  as  nooossarily  to  involve 
a  t'onsiclcriiblc  outlay  ot"  inoncy,  and  in  a  mere  lishinji  colony, 
—  I  may  he  p(M-niitt(Hl  to  say  thus  far,  that  it  is  of  very  little 
conseciuenc'c  to  me  in  wliat  soil  of  (IwcUinii'  I  oll'cr  np  my 
unworthy  ])ray('rs  during  my  brief  sojourn  in  this  lilc  ;  it 
matters  not  to  me  wiiether  1  l»end  my  knee  in  a  temple  or  a 
hovel  ;  but  when  I  consider  that  if  in  the  old  law  (lod  himself 
deemed  it  re(juisite  to  instruct  his  peoi)le  to  eri'ct  a  temple  to 
his  worship  of  the  most  liorueous  ma<j;nifieene(!  and  the  most 
eostly  materials,  how  niueh  moi'e  should  it  not  he  dei'med  of 
consequenee  in  the  Christian  dispensation  that  the  blood 
of  the  lianil*  be  offered  in  a  ehureh  suitable  to  so  august  a 
mystery?  How  eau  I  think,  then,  as  a  minister  of  the  ^lost 
High  (iod,  without  pain  and  mortilieation,  upon  being  every 
day  ol)liged  to  oll'er  u[)  the  Holy  of  holies  —  to  oiler  up  the 
Body  and  IMood  of  Christ  Jesus  —  within  a  l)uilding  that  is 
unworthy  of  being  used  as  an  asyhun  for  the  l)easts  of  the 
tield? 

"The  Catholie  Chureh  of  the  eapital  has  hitherto  been  the 
tiieancst  house  devoted  to  ]iubli('  worshi[)  in  St.  John's.  It 
is  a  rude,  ill-shaped  wooden  building,  falling  to  ruin,  nearly 
out  of  lease,  and  held  at  an  enormous  yearly  rent;  add  to 
whieh  that  it  is  so  far  front  being  ade([nate  to  the  aeeonuno- 
dation  of  our  rapidly-increasing  congregation,  that  in  the 
midst  of  winter,  on  every  Sunday,  you  may  behold  several 
hundreds  of  the  })()()r  jjcople  assisting  at  the  Holy  Sacrifice 
exi)osed  to  the  piercing  winds,  to  the  pelting  of  the  bitter 
snow-drift,  and  kneeling  imbedded  in  snow  :  and  this  building 
being  ineapid)le  from  want  of  sj)ace  of  any  increase  or  addi- 
tion, I  thought  it  my  duty  to  (Jod,  to  the  j)eople  committed 
to  my  care,  to  give  them,  if  possible,  a  temi)le  superior  to 
any  other  in  th(>  Island,  —  a  tem))l(^  at  once  beautiful  and 
si)acious,  suitable  to  the  worshij)  of  the  ]Most  High  (iod,  and 
that  may  be  regarded  in  after  times  as  a  memorial  of  the 
piety  of  the  faithful,  a  i)ledge  of  the  i)ermanency  of  our  holy 
religion,  and  an  object  of  holy  pride  to  the  fervent  Catholic. 

''  I  looked  around  me  and  1  could  neither  see  a  favourable 


OK   NEWFOUNDLAND. 


339 


site  on  wliicli  (o  croct  a  new  one,  nor  luid  I  the  nicsins  of 
piiiH'liiisiiii;  it  wiiH  tlicro  one  in  view,  nor  a  shilliiii;  in  my 
pocivct  to  coniincnco  the  Imildini;.  I  was  poiiniicss,  and  I 
niiii'ht  almost  siiy  t'ricndlcss  ;  and  yet  in  proportion  as  my 
))ov('rty  iippcaii'd  <rreat,  in  proportion  as  the  prospect 
!ip])t'!ir('d  iilooniy,  Miid  as  dillicidty  crowded  npoii  didicully 
liad  idniost,  assnmed  the  nai'h  of  impossihility,  He  who 
(hdi^hts  in  ])r()vin_<;  liimself  the  friend  of  the  destilu'u-,  the 
streiiizlh  of  the  <ei'hlc,  who  lovi's  to  niiike  the  humble  and 
lowly  the  instruments  of  His  greatest  works,  inspired  me  to 
extend  my  views,  to  enlarire  my  concej)tions,  imd  to  sec  only 
the  jrrciit  ohject  to  l)e  accomplisiied,  and  to  shut  my  eyes  to 
the  harriers  that  presented  tnemselves  to  its  c()m})l(>tion, 
refleelinir  only  that  the  work  was  for  God's  "lory  and  the 
comfort  of  my  ]hh)v  people,  and  that  in  the  warm  heai'ts 
and  i)ioiis  dispositions  of  the  faithful  I  had  a  mine  of  wealth 
calculated  to  sustain  and  support  me  throughout  the  great 
undertaking. 

"Insi)ii'ite(l  hv  these  reflections  T  beufan  literally  without  a 
l)enny  my  arduous  strugghs  in  18.')4,  by  memorializing  the 
(lovernmcnt  foi-  a  piece  of  ground  ;  it  certainly  is  a  valual)le 
si)()t,  beautiful!}'  situated,  almost  in  the  centre  of  the  town, 
and  containing  about  eight  acres.  To  give  a  delaihnl  account 
of  all  the  circumstances  connected  with  this  ap[)lication 
would  till  a  volume.  I  shall  merely  content  myself  by  saviuij, 
that  before  I  succeeded  in  obtaining  tlu;  object  of  my  prayer 
to  the  Crown,  it  cost  me  nearly  tive  years  of  V(>xalion  and 
aimoyance,  without  i)ause  or  intermission.  How  much  of 
tribulation  did  1  not  endure  during  that  period  !  Every  eil'ort 
that  malice  the  nuot  ingenious  could  devise  lias  been  re- 
sorted to  to  thwart  my  views;  caUnnny,  insult,  and  op])r()- 
bi'ium  were  heaped  u])on  me  to  impede  the  accomplishment  of 
my  wislies,  to  Itliu'ht  the  prosp{>ct  of  my  success  ;  but.  con- 
scionsof  the  integrity  of  my  intentions,  I  persevered  ;  andafter 
having  travelled  20,000  miles  of  the  Atlantic;  Ocean  sohdy 
upon  this  business,  amid  storms,  tempests,  danger,  and 
death,  and  undergoing  all  the  hardships  and  privations  that 


aio 


ECCLESIASTICAL   IlISTOKV 


luiniJUi  UMliiro  could  ciidiiro,  (Jod  ultimjifdy  crowned  my 
hopes  with  llic  comph'dvst  success.  'I'liiit  hiirh-miiidcd  nohhi- 
niiiii,  liOi'd  (Jlcncli;',  then  in  the  coIoiiImI  iKhniiiislriilioii,  hav- 
intr  ill  h'ligth  iiccedcd  to  the  jjI'mvci"  of  iiiv  pclilion,  I  wjis 
put  ill  possession  of  the  i)reseiit  vahiahh;  piece  of  gromid  that 
forms  the  site  of  our  catlieih'ul." 


It^ 


I 


"As  usual,"  Avrites  Dr.  :\rullock  (MS.,  j).  72),  "in  all 
liis  luidcrtakiiiu's  he  hiul  to  encounter  the  most  determined 
oi)position."  'i'liat  Dr.  Fleuiiiii;"  should  have  had  o|)|)onents 
in  the  troubled  arena  of  politics,  and  even  in  the  matter  of 
schools,  is  not  altoufctlier  to  i)e  womiered  at,  hut  it.  seems 
stranire  lliat  in  such  a  purely  reliii'ious  m;!*ter  as  this  any 
should  he  found  to  oppose'  him.  One  reason  for  this  oppo- 
sition we  may  lind  in  tlu'  fact  that  the  site  on  which  the 
cathedral  stands,  and  which  is  now  tlu;  centre  of  what  may 
he  called  the  '' ui)per  town,"  was  some  foity  years  auo  a 
hnrrPii  iri/dci'iifss,  and  was  cousid(>red  hy  the  easy-uoin<i^ 
folk  who  lived  in  the  lower  town  as  ''out  in  the  woods  ;*' 
hence  they  condennied  Pr.  Fleminii's  idea  of  huildinii'  the 
cath(>dral  "on  the  barrens,"  and  predicted  tliat  no  one  would 
ever  u'o  up  there  to  attend  Mass  or  reliixious  services.  'I'iiue, 
lu)wever,  has  shown  that  Dr,  Fleming  ,-aw  farther  into  the 
future  than  tlu's(>  would-be  wiseacres. 

'I'lie  cathiHlral  site  is  now  the  central  ))()int  of  a  new  and 
beautiful  city  which  has  o-pown  uj)  around  it.  — n  city  which 
ihay  be  truly  called  an  urh.'i  ai  riur,  for  thouuli  within  two 
niimites'  walk  of  the  central  business  pai'ts,  it  is,  by  its 
great  elevation,  entirely  removed  from  the  noise,  bustle, 
and  dust  of  trade,  and  surrounded  by  (juiet  terraces  and 
irardeus  ;  and  vet  the  inniiense  conureirations  of  from  live  to 
seven  and  ei^^ht  thousand  which  throni;  its  ample  aisl(\s  at 
each  of  the  five  ^Fasses  celel)rat(>d  every  Sunday,  and  which 
pour  their  livinir  streams  lik(v  a  miiihty  tlood  from  its  many 
portals  in  all  directions  after  \'espers,  —  all  this  uives  the 
lie  to  the  predictions  of  the  grumblers  of  Dr.  Fleming's 
time. 


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OF   NEWFOUNDLAND. 


341 


It  would  1)0  unnooossrtry  to  trace  iiiimitoly  the  intricacies 
of  (he  slru<r,irl<^  Avliich  this  jiivat  Prelate  went  tlirouj^h  to 
procure  this  site  of  land  ;  hut  some  brief  account  of  it  will 
he  interesting  to  tliosc  of  the  pri'sent  generation.  As  we 
have  already  seen,  he  travelled  twenty  thousand  miles  of 
ocean,  tliat  is  to  say,  he  crossed  the  Atlantic  back  and  forth 
five  times  before  he  succeeded  in  his  great  enterprise.  In 
a  letter  to  the  Central  Council  of  th(^  Society  iC-  the  Propa- 
gation of  the  Faith,  dated  20th  May,  18;}8,  Ik;  describes 
some  of  his  trials  and  diiliculties  in  this  matter:  — 


"In  l<S,3t  I  had  addressed  a  memorial  to  the  T5ritish 
Government,  to  oI)tain  a  large  piece  of  land  at  St.  John's 
to  build  a  cathedral,  a  convent,  schools,  and  episcopal  I'csi- 
dcnc(>  thereon.  I  also  dcsir<'''  a  suitable  place  for  a  ceme- 
tery. .  .  .  The  following  year  I  renewed  my  applica- 
tion, and  in  18.'](!  I  went  to  London  for  tlie  purpose  of 
following  up  my  rc(|ucst.  I  was  in  Rome  in  the  month 
of  June,  l.s;»7,  wiien  I  received  a  reply  from  the  Secretary 
of  State.  It  informed  me  that  insti'uctions  had  been  sent 
to  the  (Jovernoi'  of  the  Island  to  comply  with  my  dcMiiand. 
lnunediat(>ly  on  the  reieipt  of  this  news  I  returned  to  New- 
foundland, anxious  to  take  possession  of  the  land  grante<l 
by  the  (Jorernment,  and  to  commence  the  buildings  so  long 
looked  f().  by  the  people.  .  .  .  On  the  morning  of  my 
arrival  the  n(>ws  spread  on  all  sides.  All  the  peojjle,  leaving 
their  work,  came  to  the  shore.  Iiefore  leaving  the  vessel  I 
received  a  dei)utation  of  the  yoimg  nuMi  of  the  Island,  Avho 
presented  m(^  with  an  address,  and  begged  permission  to 
low  me  ashore  in  a  boat  wl:icli  they  had  elegantly  preparecl 
t'or  the  oci'asion,  and  which  disphiyed  the  banner  of  the 
Cross,  —  that  Cross  by  which  and  for  which  1  had  sur- 
mounted so  manv  dangers.  On  setting  foot  on  land  I  was 
saluted  with  cries  and  tears  of  joy.  .  .  .  The  AssiMuItly, 
which  was  in  session  at  the  moment,  adjoui'ued,  and  all  the 
membcM's  <'anu'  to  the  v.harf  to  compliment  me. 

".Vftcr  having  saluted  luy  priests,  who  car.iv'  to  nuu't  nu-. 


•T^ifmim 


;}42 


ECCLKSIASTICAL  IIISTOUY 


r  jiMvo  Iho  si:Lrn.'il,  and  \\v  wont  in  procossioii  towards  Iho 
cluuvli,  f'ollowiiii!:  llio  priiuipal  streets  of  the  eily.  We  had 
not  proceeded  I'ar  when  a  ceremony  occurred  which  I  had 
jiot  in  the  least  o.\pect»>d,  and  Aviiich  awaited  in  me  the  most 
sweet  emotions,  The  two  ranks  of  the  ])roecssion  oiMMiing 
suddenly,  I  saw  advancinir  a  swarm  of  youni^  nirls,  dressed 
in  white  and  carry  inir  a  hanner  of  white  sal  in,  on  wliich  was 
cmbroidiMvd  a  <zilt  cross  crowned  with  ih)wei's.  Tliis  I)anner, 
wiiich  was  tile  work  of  tlieir  own  liands,  was  at  liic  same 
time  an  emhiem  of  the  i)urity  of  these  younii;  souls,  and  a 
souvenir  of  tlie  ^Mission  of  Xewfoundland,  They  kn(dt  down 
in  the  street  to  receive  my  blessing,  and  I  couhl  not  n^strain 
the  tears  whicli  escajjcd  from  my  eyes  at  tliis  new  testimony 
of  the  aifection  of  my  dear  diocese.  These  chihhvn,  of 
whom  the  oldest  was  not  more  than  twelve  j'oars  of  age, 
belonged  to  the  schools  t)f  the  Presentation  convent,  which 
I  had  estal)Iishetl  only  thn'c  years  ago.  They  then  took 
the  head  i)f  the  [)roeession,  and  when  the  entire  covfcjc  had 
entered  the  church,  they  came  to  the  foot  of  the  altar  to 
|)resent  their  bamier  to  me, 

'"After  having  rendered  thanks  to  the  Sovereign  Dispenser 
of  all  these  benelits,  I  addressed  a  few  words  to  those 
assembled,  and  informed  them  of  the  success  of  my  ellbrts. 
1  icconnted  to  them  the  nund)er]ess  proofs  of  good- 
will and  the  special  favours  which  were  showennl  upon  nu;  in 
Home  l)y  His  Holiness  and  by  the  Cardinal  Prefect  of  I'ropa- 
ganda  ;  the  gifts  which  they  were  about  to  send  for  the 
Mission;  the  lively  interest  which  was  shown  at  Lyons  in 
the  bosom  of  your  Council  ;  the  genmous  donations  which 
your  noble  Society  had  destined  for  us, 

"  ]\Iy  tirst  care  was  to  demand  from  the  Governor  the  con- 
cession of  the  lands  granted  by  the  Imperial  Govermnent. 
Hut  1  found  my  enemies  had  been  at  work. 
Although  I  had  in  my  hands  the  onler  of  the  Colonial  .^!inister 
for  the  concession  of  the  site,  the  (Jovernor  refused,  and 
pressed  me  to  choose  either  of  two  other  sites,  ea*  h  ecjually 
unfavourable. 


ff  «bu«M 


OF   XKWFOUNDLAND. 


343 


"Tlio  Jifl'airs  of  the  tlioi'cse  did  not  peniiil;  me  to  uiulortiikc 
at  once  another  voVMge  to  En:irlan(l,  yet  it  was  ahsolutely 
necessary.  1  did  not  set  sail  till  tlui  month  ot'.Jannary,  that 
is  to  say,  in  the  most  nnl'avourahle  time  of  the  year.  AVe 
l)assed  the  tirst  four  hundred  miles  in  the  midst  of  ice.  The 
weather  was  most  tem[)estnoiKs,  and  it  was  with  ereat  dilli- 
culty  that  wo  arrived  at  Falmouth.  I  went  innnediately  to 
London,  to  make  my  report  on  tlu;  ojjposition  oll'ered  to  me. 
jNIy  ))rotest  was  favourably  received.  I  obtained  a  formal 
order  delininu;  particularly  the  si)ot  to  be  j!:iven,  precisely  as 
I  [)ointed  out.  It  is  a  maiiiiiticcnt  site.  It  commands  the 
city,  the  harl)()ur,  the  ocean,  and  a  vtist  expanse  of  country. 
The  Cross  elevated  on  these  heiifhts  will  be  a  consolini;'  sioht 
for  the  poor  inhabitants  of  these  countries,  .  .  .  And 
St)  my  hojjes  were  realized.  .  .  .  May  the  heavenly 
I'rotector,  who  has  deiii'ned  so  far  to  bless  my  feeble  ellorts, 
enable  me  to  tind  the  means  to  conduct  the  enteri)rise  to  a 
hai)i)y  conclusion  I  " 

The  correspondence  concerninu'  this  matter  consists  of  an 
innnense  mass  of  lctt(-rs,  memorials,  petitions,  etc.,  stretch- 
ing over  a  ])erio(l  of  ne:irly  three  years.  Jt  will  l)e  found 
complete  in  the  Aii])endix  to  this  volume.     (8eo  Note  .").) 

To  forward  Ids  project.  Dr.  Flennnir  enpiu'tMl  the  stM'vices 
of  O'Connell,  Moore  O'Farrell,  one  of  the  hii:h  t)(licials  of  His 
JNIajesty,  Mr.  Anthony  Lynch,  the  learned  He|)i-esentative  for 
Galway,  and  several  others  of  the  Catholic  leaders.  The 
enthusiasm  which  Muinuited  the  venerable  Prelate  seemed 
contaii'iotis,  and  all  who  met  him  were  ins[)ired  by  his  zeal, 
:is  may  be  seen  from  tiie  t\)llowiug  exlrat'ts.  Mr.  Anthony 
Lynch,  memlier  for  (iaiway,  writes  t'roin  London,  2llh  of 
March,  1^137  :  — 

"T  miule  many  eH'orls  to  find  your  liordship  in  Loixlon, 
and  at  length  learned  you  were  in  Home.  ...  I  hasten 
to  connuniiicate  to  you  a  jjiece  of  iid'ormalion.  which  will  Ite 
most  grai<'ful,  and  it  is  that  I  have  succeeded  in  securing  the 
grant  of  land  for  your  church.'' 


H 


i 


;U4 


ECCLESIASTICAL  HISTORY 


Moore  O'FiUTell  writes  as  follows.  I  have  not  the  (Lite, 
and  only  a  Latin  translation  of  his  letter,  made  for  the  use 
of  the  authorities  in  Home.     I  restore  it  to  the  original  :  — 


'' T  coiiii'ratulate  you  on  the  ol)laiiiin_ii'  of  your  object.  I 
have  received  a  letter  from  Lord  (ileiielii'  grant inii'  the  piece 
of  land  descril)ed  as  follows."  Then  follows  the  (lescriptit)n 
as  laid  down  in  the  report  of  Engineer  Walker.  ''  At  length 
you  are  rewarded  for  all  your  lal)ors."  He  then  si)eaks  of 
the  accusations  made  against  Dr.  Fleming  and  his  priests, 
and  sajs  he  will  have  an  o])p()rtunity  of  defending  him. 
"You  will  he  glad  to  hear  that  a  society  has  been  instituted 
to  take  particular  cognizance  of  all  all'airs  of  nialadniiuistra- 
tion  in  the  colonies,  and  to  bring  them  before  ParlianuMit. 
If  the  ministry  be  not  chauixed  before  lU'xt  session,  I  will 
invite  them  to  a  discussion  relative  to  the  allairs  of  Xewfound- 
laiul,  and  if  you  should  have  leisure,  I  would  wish  vou  to 
su|)ply  me  with  particulars." 

On  leaving  St.  rlolm's,  July  4,  1S',}C),  Dr.  Fleming  ap- 
pointed the  Rev.  Father  Troy  \'icar-Gi'uei'aI,  giv'iig  him  full 
charge  of  the  spiritual  aduiinistration  of  the  diocese,  lie 
writes  to  Father  Troy,  from  Livi'rjjool,  on  July  17,  "after 
a  jiassage  unj)recedented,  .  .  .  both  as  rcsspects  exj)e- 
dition  (1.")  days)  and  the  tiueness  of  the  weather." 

It  was  Sunday  morning,  and  as  soon  as  they  anchonMl  off 
the  King's  dock  he  went  ashore  to  hear  .Mass.  Having 
learnt  that  a  vessel  was  about  to  sail  "on  return  tide"  for 
St.  John's,  though  not  having  tin;  use  of  his  lingers,  he  can- 
not refrain  from  scribbling  a  line  to  annouiu'c  his  safe  arrival, 
and  to  ask  the  p(M)j)le  to  give  thanks.  He  would  start  for 
l^ondon  at  once,  as  Parliament  is  not  yet  i)roi'ogued,  but  he 
cannot  get  his  trunks  ashore  before  "  12  o'clock  to-morrow  ;  " 
he  expects  to  be  in  London  on  Tuesdiiy  -•'ening.  He 
desires  to  be  remembered  to  the  priests,  the  Sisters,  and  the 
dear  people;  lu!  will  not  })articulari/e  names,  but  cannot 
refrain  I'rom  numtioniiui'  "Messrs.   Nui>:ent,  Kent,  Dovle,  S. 


OK  NEWFOUNDLAND. 


345 


Morris,  Dillon,  and  0'^^;lra."    lie  enjoins  on  liiin  to  write  ])y 
"every  vessel  sailinu'  for  England  or  Ireland." 

On  Sept.  lOih,  18;](),  he  writes  Father  Troy  from  No.  7 
Ayr  .Street,  London.  He  eomplains  of  not  having  yet  had 
one  line  from  any  person  in  Xewfotmdland.  "  1  have  been 
rather  nnfortunate,"  he  eontinnes,  ''as  yet  in  my  api)lieation 
to  Government.  In  faet,  I  eame  here  at  the  wrong  time, 
when  tiie  ministers,  harassed  by  a  long  session,  and  every 
member  of  the  House  of  Commons  from  whom  I  eould 
exjjeet  any  assistance  or  sympathy,  had  gone  to  their  respec- 
tive country  homes.  I  think,  however,  I  shall  eventually 
succeed,  but  not,  I  believe,  before  ()etol)er. 

"I  hav<!  not  had  a  m;)nient's  resi)it(!  since  my  arrival  here, 
Avriting  letters  by  night,  and  endeavouring  to  ju'ess  their 
consideration  by  day  on  the  heartless  few  about  the  seat  of 
Government,  that  I  am  lu'artily  tired  of  them,  Vmt  in  order 
to  guard  against  the  worst,  I  expect  you  will  iniinediatcjiy 
wait  on  my  friend  Mr.  Wakeham,  and  tell  him,  in  tiie  event 
of  A\  iliiams's  Plantation  being  put  up  for  auction,  to  make 
the  i)ur(h:ise  for  me  ;  and  should  tlu;  chapel  funds  in  hand  bo 
insnflicii'nt  to  covi-r  tlu;  amount  of  purchase,  let  money  be 
raised  by  mortgaging  my  farm  or  any  other  propt  rty  I  have, 
if  nccessai'y.  .  .  .  You  may  rely  on  the  integrity  of  Mr. 
Wakeham;  but  let  no  person  be  aware  of  your  negotiating 
with  h.iiu  on  the  subject  of  that  purchase,  lest  it  should  go 
abroad,  and  we  should  be  then-by  de[)rived  of  that  only  spot 
that  can  be  rendered  available  for  all  our  puri)oses. 
You  can  mention  the  circumstance  in  confidence  to  John 
Casey  and  James  Treacy  ;  get  them  to  attend  the  sale  and 
make  an  oiler  for  it,  in  order  to  throw  tlu^  enemy  oil'  his 
guard."  lie  states  that  he  is  [)ressed  on  all  sides  to  remain 
in  Europe  the  winter,  but  had  not  made  up  his  mind.  .\s  a 
matter  of  fact,  hi'  did,  and  visited  Ivonie,  of  which  we  shall 
treat  moi-e  fully  hereaftei'. 

While  at  Kome,  in  June,  \>i'M,  as  we  have  seen.  Dr. 
Fleming  received  the  fivorable  news  that  his  petition  con- 
cerning the  land  was  granted.     He  inunediately  set  out  for 


mmKs:: 


34G 


ECCLESIASTICAL   IlISTOUY 


Nowfoundlaiul,  and  airivod  sonic  tiino  bcl'oiv  October  .'>d  ; 
for  thoro  exists  a  letter  written  by  liiiu  on  tli:d  date  at  St. 
John's  to  llio  (\)lonial  Seeretai-y,  the  Hon.  James  ('rowdy, 
askin<r  for  "  the  allowance  niadi^  by  the  Uritish  (iovernnient  to 
the  Catholic  Dishop  of  this  Island,  which  was  due  since  the 
early  part  of  the  year."  Dr.  Midlock  (MS.,  p.  71)  states 
that  "in  the  month  of  December,  a  week  after  his  ariival,  he 
Avas  once  more  on  the  Atlantic  on  his  way  to  London."  This 
is  not,  however,  (jnite  exact,  as  we  have  seen  that  he  liimscll" 
states  (letter  to  the  J'i'o/xn/d/ioii  ifc  ht  Fo!)  that  he  could 
not  lcav(Mill  ,Famiary.  ( )n  the  ;>('/th  of  danuary,  IM.'SS,  he 
writes  from  '.\'l  Craven  street,  London,  Strand,  to  I'^alhci' 
I'roy,  and  states  that  "after  a  tolerable  passau'e  I  landed  in 
Falmouth  on  the  llMh  of' fbuniary.  The  captain  was  truly 
kind  to  me,  and  never  did  I  feel  in  better  health."  lie  then 
speaks  of  his  interview  with  Mr.  Xuu'cnt  luid  Dr.  ('arson, 
who  were  at  that  time  in  liondon  as  a  delei:ation  from  New- 
foundland, ol"  which  some  notice  will  be  i^ivcn  in  a  future 
chapter:  at  present  we  are  concerned  only  with  tliat  ])art 
Avhich  relates  to  the  struiiiile  for  the  plot  of  land.  "  I  am 
sure,"  he  s;iys,  "of  o{>niiig  the  u'round,  not witlist.andinii'  tin- 
obstacles  throwii  in  my  way  in  tlu^  most  inlluential  (juarters. 
I  am  at  a  loss  to  (h'termine  whether  or  not  I  shall 
pureliiise  \\'illi!uns*s  pro[)erty.  I  cam;ot  take  my  heart  olf 
that  spot,  —  the  site  the  place  pr(>sents,  and  the  accommoda- 
tion it  allbrds  for  all  th(^  pur[)oses  I  contemplate;  still  the 
idea  of  laying  out  all  my  dis[)osable  fund  alarms  me.  ^bly 
(lod  direct  \\\(\  I  The  ])a])crs  are  sij.'iied,  and  I  can  purchase 
whenever  I  ])lease.  A\'rite  me  at  once,  and  tell  me  what  you 
think.  How  nuich  have  voii  offered  to  Monier  Hutehinii's';' 
I  find  Arthur  (";ii'lcr"s  claim  is  out  of  the  (juesliou." 

On  March  7,  1S.")(S,  he  wrote  the  liiia!  appeal  to  Gov- 
ernment (No.  14  of  the  cori'cspondeiKH'  already  allude<l 
to')  which  secured  his  o!);(>et.  it  is  :i  niastcrh'  letter,  full 
of  streuiith   and   force.      He    s|)eaks  with  the   slroniT  leelin<!' 


I  S('('  AlilK'lKli.\, 


* 


OF   X  E U'FOUN DLAN 1). 


347 


of  triilli  and  honesty,  refutes  in  a  ( rusliiiig  manner  all  the 
nuiehinations  phiuned  aj^^ainst  him,  and  carries  conviction  to 
even  the  most  biassed  mind.  Th(U'e  was  no  further  ([ucst ion  ; 
the  land  was  granted  at  onc(\  On  April  7  he  writes  a 
letter  of  thaidvs  to  Sir  Georgi;  Grey,  from  A'o.  8  Surry 
Street,   Strand  :  — 

"  Sii;,  — I  liav(^  the  honour  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of 
your  letter  of  to-day,  .  .  .  wherein  you  ac(iuaint  me,  hy 
direction  of  Lord  Gleneln',  that  Ilis  Lordshij)  has  ascertained 
from  tile  Masf(>r-(  JiMieral  and  Iioard  of  Ordnance?  that  there 
is  no  ohjection  in  a  military  jjoint  of  view  to  the  iifrant  to  nu;, 
for  the  erection  of  a  school-iiouse  and  chapel,  on  the  land  to 
the  eastward  of  Fort 'i'ownshend,  formerly  occuj)ied  as  the 
garrison  wood-yard,  and  which  was  the  land  originally  aj)- 
plied  for  Ity  me  ;  and  further,  that  as  it  appears  that  the 
other  })ortions  of  land  which  had  been  ollered  to  me  do  not 
j)ossess  the  same  advantages.  His  L()rdshi[)  has  directed 
Ca])tain  Prescott,  if  no  insui)eral)le  ol)jcclion  shoidd  exist,  to 
})ut  me  at  once  in  possession  of  tiie  land  to  the  eastward  of  Fort 
Townshcnd.  Allow  me.  Sir,  through  you,  to  exi)ress  to  His 
Lordship  my  sincere  thanks,  .  .  .  and  to  assure  him 
of  my  gratitude  to  Her  Majc^sty's  (lovcrmncnt  for  the  con- 
sideration they  have  testified  tor  the  comfort  and  convenience 
of  so  large  and  >o  loyal  a  portion  of  Her  Majesty's  sul)jects, 
ali'ordiiig  to  the  infant  population  a  means  of  ac(|niring  educa- 
tion ;  to  the  aduH  an  op|)ort unity  of  ollering  up  their  orisons 
for  their  Sovereign  ;  and  a  place  of  lasting  repose  for  the  dead  ; 
and  to  me  the  hap|)iness  of  laying  the  foundation  of  a  suite 
of  erections  which,  I  trust,  will  long  remain  a  monument 
to  the  lilicrality  and  henelicence  of  our  glorious  and  good 
(^ueen." 


This  was  the  last  of  that  circmnlocutory  correspondence 
continm'iig  over  a  period  of  ni'arly  four  years,  and  involving 
the  ciossing  of  the  Atlantic  liviHimes  by  the  indefatigal)le 
liishoi).     Uut   he  was  well   rewarcU'd  for  his  i>reat  struimle, 

1  O  CO 


I      '1 

i 


mmmmi 


5» 


ms 


348 


KCCLESIASTICAL   HISTORY 


'i 


TIh'  niiiiouiu'oiiicnl  to  llic  pcojjlc  )»y  Fallii'r  Troy  that  the 
urouiul  hail  Ixu-n  (thtaiiicd  was  tho  signal  liir  great  rejoicing; 
l)ut  on  Iho  arrival  of  Dr.  FU'niiiig  hinisdC,  in  Ihc  month  of 
October,  their  (Milhnsiasni  hnr.'^t  ail  liounds.  'I'lie  icason  \vi»y 
l)r.  Fleming  did  not  return  innnediately  to  St.  John's  is  (ex- 
plained in  a  letter  of  fJnne,  liStS,  to  the  Propagation  of  the 
Faith.  "Jt  was  in  the  spring  of  l.S."»<S  I  had  thus  suecee<led" 
namely,  in  securing  the  gi'oiind,  "l»ut  hefoi-e  I  returned  to 
St.  flohn's  I  thouglit  it  important  to  communicate  with  somo 
of  the  llrst  architei'ts  of  the  day,  in  order  to  he  fui-nisiied 
witli  tine  niH'essary  (h'signs  for  the  calhedrai.  J  had  com- 
munication willi  several,  hut  our  climate  is  so  peculiai',  our 
frost  so  intense,  and  the  (juantities  of  snow  falling  every  winter 
so  heavy,  I  at  length  Judged  it  belter  to  jjroceed  to  the  north 
of  Fnro[)e,  and  at  Altona,  on  the  FII)e,  obtained  from  the 
architect  enii)loyed  by  the  Danish  (lovernment,  ]\I.  Schmidt, 
in  that  city,  all  1  desired,  so  that  it  was  not  till  tiie  end  of 
October  I  was  enabled  to  arrive  in  Xmvfoundland." 

M.  Schmidt's  designs  are  still  ])reserved  in  llie  Fpiscopal 
Lil)rai'y  in  St.  John's,  from  which  it  will  l)e  seen,  that  lliough 
the  general  stylo  of  his  j)l!ui  has  been  preserved,  yet  it  has 
be(>n  greatly  modilied,  particulai'ly  l)y  the  aI)olition  of  a  portico 
and  the  addition  of  the  transej)ts.  The  tinal  ])ian,  which  was 
the  one  actually  worked  upon,  is  drawn  by  ^lurphy,  ot  Dublin. 

Dr.  Fleming  describes  his  arrival  as  I'ollows  :  — 

'*  Tt  wouhl  be  impossil)le  to  describe  the  enthusiastic  fervour 
that  has  Iteen  evinced  by  the  peoi)le  of  St.  John's  upon  the 
occa>ion  of  the  accedence  of  that  grant,  so  deeply  interested 
were  their  feelings;  and  so  thrilling  was  the  announcement  of 
that  success,  that  the  whole  population  turned  out  and  assem- 
bled sinudtaneously  upon  the  ground,  some  bearing  longuers, 
some  conveying  posts,  and  even  children  bringing  nails  and 
implements;  and  in  the  incredible  s})ace  of  ten  minutes  the 
whole  space,  containinir  upwards  of  eight  acres,  was  enclosed 
with  a  sid)stantial  t'eiice  live  feet  high. 

*'  The    next    demonstration  occurred  upon  my  requesting 


OF    NEWFOUNDLAND. 


349 


tlnibcr  for  seiifl'oldini;  for  the  l)uil(liii<i^.  Notwithstamlinj^  tluit 
the  woods  wlicrc  such  stutF  was  to  bo  obtiiinod  witro  not  less 
thiiii  twelve  miles  distant,  yet  in  one  day,  and  before  one 
o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  T  had  placed  on  the  "ground  more 
than  £500  worth  of  timber  and  s[)ars. 


"At  the  noi'th  side  of  St.  John's  stands  a  rocky  hill,  called 
Siji'nal  Hill.  U})on  this  hill,  many  years  aii'o,  a  vast  (|uantity 
of  huii'e  rocks  of  red  (jranite  had  been  raised  from  their  beds 
for  the  piii'poso  of  openinu'  a  road  to  the  barracks  which 
stands  on  this  hill  ;  they  lay  there  in  confusion.  Fpon  these, 
in  my  solicitude  for  j)r()curinL>'  a  suitable  foundation  for  my 
biiiMin;:',  I  cast  my  eyes.  Their  removal  would  be  a  benelit 
to  public  improvement.  The  (iovermuent  were  scared  from 
it.  because  the  exi)ense  necessarily  incident  uj)on  it  would 
far  outbalance  any  iuuncdiate  benefit  to  be  derived  by  them 
from  it.  I  api)lied  for  them  to  tlu^  Colonel  of  Enuinecu's,  who 
at  once  uranted  nu;  permission  to  take  them.  I  pive  notice 
on  the  Sunday  that  on  the  Wednt'sday  followini;'  wo  should 
eonnnence  this  undertaking  at  nine;  o'clock  in  the  morninn' ; 
and  at  that  hour  uj)wards  of  si.xthousiuid  persons  were  on  the 
.spot  ])rei)ared  for  the  undertakinu'.  T  recommended  them  to 
form  themselves  into  larije  parties;  and  never  was  there  ex- 
hibited a  u'reater  decree  of  enudation  than  Avas  te^titied  by 
those  bodies,  —  each  vvinir  with  the  other  either  in  brinuiuii" 
the  heaviest  stones  or  the  greatest  number  of  loads  in  the 
course  of  the  day.  The  season  nave  us  a  beautiful  snow-path, 
particularly  adapted  for  the  slide-hauliuix  ;  and  before  tlu^  close 
of  the  eveninu'  tluMc  had  been  de[)osited  on  the  ground  al)ove 
l,2(iO  tons  of  stonc!  \\>v  the  foundations. 

"  Much  of  this  stone  had  to  be  drawn  over  an  extensive 
and  dangerous  lake;  yel  no  sentiment  of  fear  daunted  the 
minds  of  any  of  the  men,  while  I  stood  by  tilled  with  anxious 
solicitud(!  lest  the  slightest  accident  might  occur  to  damp 
their  ardour.  1  observed  a  few  of  our  hardiest  class,  the 
])ilots,  at  work  disengaging  an  enormous  mass  of  rock  from 
its  bed    in  the  side  of  the   hill,  inmiediately  over  the  lake. 


850 


ECCLESIASTICAL    IIFSTOHY 


aiul  Icrrilicd  at  llic  (laiiifcr,  in  the  lirsl,  placo,  lest  somc^  ol" 
them  sliotild  Itc  criislicd,  I  iiidiircd  iliciii  t(/  dcsi.sl.  'I'licy 
])ivt('iid('(l  tc  eoniply,  hut  watched  llic  opportunily  of  my 
willidrawal  to  renew  their  ellbi'ts,  I  had  not  jroiie  far  when 
I  heaid  a  uild  shoiil.  I  turned,  and  saw  alioiit  a  liuiKhcd 
men  haulinii'  with  ropes  the  iilentieal  rock  which  lliey  liad  dis- 
l()(li!:i'd,  in  spite  of  my  prohihition,  and  drairiicd  it  with  iii'cat 
swiftness  across  the  lake,  otherwise  its  il-real  weiu'lit  wonhl 
liave  don'ttU'ss  suidv  llircMiuii  llie  ice,  and  Itnricd  it,  and,  per- 
liaps,  many  persons  also,  in  llie  hosom  of  the  lal<e.  This 
stone  was  estimated  to  contain  upwards  of  seven  tons. 

"  Apiin,  wiien  I  notiliedmy  (k-sire  to  liave  the  foundations 
cxca\  ated,  thc^  appearance  of  tlie  peoph-  wastrnly  edifyini:'  and 
alfectin^'.  'I'here  you  miiilil  liehoid  ail  (dasses  of  llie  popula- 
tion join  witiiout  di>tinction  in  this  laborious  undertakinu' ; 
even  women,  hendinu"  umlcr  tlie  wciiilit  of  years,  assist ini>:  to 
convey  away  the  (day  oi' graved  in  their  a|)i'ons  ;  sothat  in  less 
than  two  days  the  \vhole  i'oimdations  were  excavated,  contain- 
inir  7!l,2(i()  culiic  feet,  or  8,N()<»  cubic  yards. 

"  liut  nothinu'  coidd  more;  strongly  manifest  the  feidinii's  of 
the  l)eople  than  tin- zeal  e.\hil)ited  in  conveyinii'  the  l)uil(rm_u- 
stone  for  the  erection  of  this  edifice.  Every  Ctitholic  owner 
of  a  schooner  or  boat,  and  even  some  Protestants,  \  olunteered 
to  send  their  vesstds  iiratuitously  to  Kelly's  Island,  a  distance 
to  many  of  them  of  more  than  two  hundred  miles  by  water, 
for  a  cariioof  stones,  which  were  there  ([uarried  for  the  pur- 
pose, and  the  fishermen  oflered  themscdves  to  form  the  crcnvs  ; 
and  no  sooner  are  these  caru'ces  landed  than  the  farmers  of 
8t,  John's  send  their  carts,  althouiih  this  work  necessarily 
occurs  at  their  busiest  season  ;  and  the  mechanics  in  the  town, 
—  smiths,  tailors,  victuallers,  coopers,  carpt'utei's,  shoe- 
makers, and  the  pilots,  as  good  and  virtuous  a  body  of  men 
as  live,  and  even  shopkeepers  and  met'chants,  —  all  take  a 
day,  each  dei)!irtment  alternately,  to  load  and  unload  those 
carts;  even  the  female  portion  of  the  conirreuation  insisted 
u'pon  devoting  one  diiy  in  each  wwk  to  those  works  ;  and  you 
might  behold  hundreds  of  females,  young  and  old,  married 


f^'" 


OF   NKWI'OUNDLANI). 


a5l 


nnd  siiiiflc,  rich  iind  poor,  iisscinMcd  every  Moiid.'iy  moriiinir, 
f'liriiislied  with  hMrrows,  jictinir  the  |);irt  of  Ijihomcrs  hy  hriiii;- 
intr  sl<»iie  iVoiii  th(^  most  dist;inl  purl  ot"  llie  uTiXiiid,  where  it 
h.'id  heeii  |)lMeed,  to  (he  loot ol"  the  seiiU'ohlint;" ;  Miid  tliis  niiiii- 
ilestiition  of  ze:d  and  <h'V()tion  (coiitiniiei!  as  it  has  heeii  IVoiii 
the  lirst  week  until  the  eh»s«' of  the  htiiidinii'  season)  is  witli- 
oiit  parallel  in  the  history  oi"  the  Chnreh  in  any  eoinit ry."' 


I 


i 


'Till'  fill liciN  1111(1  iiiollu'i's  of  llio  pivspiit  ^.'fiu'rritioii  t;l(iiv  in  ici'imiiliii^'  ti>  llicir 
oliildrcMi  liow  llicv  took  piut  in  tlio-io  works,  niid  m:uiy  lui  iiiuciliptc,  iiiiiiisiiii,'-  i,v  iiii(  r- 
t-iliii;r,  isrclicarsrd  llu'icaiu'iit.  Tlif  |)U(i|iIo,  liii\  iii^r  li'iiriicii  liy  I'Xju'riiiii'c' limv  iicccs- 
Siiiy  it  was  tuoliluiii  scciiii'  nnd  iiudiiNlitt'd  |)()s»c»-.iciii  nl'  llic  land,  were  ni>|  ■^ali'^licd 
Avilli  I'l'iicinL.''  it  in.  'I'licv  llioii^'lil  llial  it'llicv  cnnM  l)iil  liavt'  one  corpse  liiiiicd  in  lliii 
^jroiiiid  it,  woidd  l)("  a  iIdmIiIc  scciirily,  as  tlicy  diil  not  liclii'Vi;  that  I'vrii  tlicir  liilUTcil 
rncinii'S  would  atlompt  to  inovr  tin- dead.  lint  tof^'ct  llioco/yxM  dilirl.i,  that  wa>  tin'  nili. 
Who  would  Ih-  iiccoiiiniodalinif  cnoii^rli  to  die?  Or  whose  faith  was -.Irnii.:' cikiii^Ii 
to  allow  liimsi'lf  to  h('  hiirinl  alive,  or  made  a  vieliin  of?  lieliol  I  !  "the  ram  is 
founil  slicking'  fast  anion^'  the  hi'iers."  A  certain  notorious  eliaraeter  in  the  ti>wn  of  the 
name  of  Mnllins  took  oeiM>ioii  mo-t  iip|iortniiel_v  to  die  (at  least  so  it  was  saiil),  and  ho 
was  linri<'d  with  trreat  |)om|i  in  a  hack  part  of  the  new  ;;romid,  not  far  fnnii  where  now 
•stands  the  hall-alley.  .Some  said  it  was  a  clever  trick  of  old  Mnllins  to  die  at  that 
time,  as  othci'wise  \w  never  would  have  ;^-ot  a  iliceiit  burial,  linich  less  a  ;^raiid  fiinei'al. 
I5nl  not  lonjr  after  this  the  veritahle  .Mnllins  appeared  aLraiii  in  the  llesh,  tlioMi;h  many 
uverred  (and  will  aver  to  this  day)  that  it  was  his  "•host.  'I'he  fact  was  thtit  poor 
Midlins  "  is  not  dead,  hut  .slcepeth,"  havin;r  heen  induced  hy  "  the  hoys  "  to  take  an 
ovcr-ili;ni;:hl  of  a  certain  soniidferous  decoction  to  which  he  was  leather  partial  ;  and 
it  was  hnt  a  eolHn  full  of  stones  that  was  huriiMl  with  honors ! 

I  am  tempted  to  ri'I'ite  one  other  anecdote  on  this  snhjeet.  \  few  years  wu  it 
Illi;;ht  have  hcen  noticed  that  there  was  a  rather  siii;,'ular  curve  on  tlie  wcsU'iri  houi.  !- 
ary  of  the  plot  of  laml  in  i|Ueslion.  It  cannot  now  he  noticed,  as,  since  thai  time,  undi'r 
tlu'  Iicnnett  (Jovernment,  an  additional  piece  id"  the  Onlnance  c-roniid  was  ohtained, 
and  the  road  was  moved  farther  westward  ;  hut  at  the  time  the  road  |)a>-cd  nnder- 
ncalh  the  I'alace  windows,  and  immediately  in  frcnit  of  St.  lionavcntnrc's  ( 'olle;;i'. 
'I'lu'  line  of  road,  insteail  of  luiinin^  in  a  strai^dil  line,  cuivimI  suddenly  we-twards  at 
the  corner  of  the  I'alace.  On  remarking,'  this  fact  one  day,  and  wondcrin',''  what 
caused  il,  an  old  man  who  was  working;  ahout  a  drain  looked  up  and  said,  "  Well,  yer 
IJev'r'lis,  1  can  li'U  ye  all  ahont  it,  for  it  was  I  done  it  meself.  Yes,  (iod  lorui'mc, 
'twas  the  first  rro^iv (/./'//'/■(('/(//'(  I  ever  opened  in  me  life,  and  the  last,  too.  IJiit  sure 
only  for  the  I'ase  was  in  il  IM  never  disgrace  me-elf  he  lavin'  sicli  sod  as  that  .-iflhcr 
me,  as  crooked  as  a  shovel  handle  !  "  —  "  Why,  how  was  that,  .Mickle  r  "  —  "  Well,  \i'. 
sec,  yer  Kev'r'ns,  when  Ui^hop  I'lemin'  (d'od  he  udoil  to  his  sowl  I)  ;:(it  the  liil  o'  land 
aflhcr  thrav'lin'  nieiiy  a  thousan'  mile  o'  tin'  suit  ocean,  the  lioiindhai  ies  was  laid  out 
wild  .stakes,  and  1  was  a\cd  lo  come  wml  iiie  horses  an'  plnui;h  to  run  a  smj,  -n  ilny 
could  see  where  to  put  the  fiuce.  Well,  I  come  jcs'  hcl'ore  dawiiin'  o'  d.iy  in  the 
inornin',  an'  I  yoked-to  and  sinrled.  I  see  at  wanste  the  way  thiiii  fellas  o'  the  ( iarrison 
laid  otV  the  line.  Av  I  folly'd  it  sthraiiihl  il  'nd  run  down  a'most  to  iiothiiiu' there  heyant 
Ipcthe  fiMMlt  road,  j.'s' where  the  Ilishop  wanted  to  have  thiM  atalhei'al  faciu'ou.  .So,ses 
I,  in  the  iiameo'(iod,  thoii^di  it^oesairi'ii  me  heart  to  makeacrookcd  sod,  lor  this  wanste 
I'll  do  il !  So  I  f;ov  a  little  elinek  o'  the  rein,  an'  I  turneil  'cm  out  towards  the  (iarri- 
son gate.     An'  sure,  yer  llev'r'ns,  ye  can  see  yerself  av  1  went  slhraight  I'd  eut  right 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


1.0 


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1.25 


IIM    112.5 


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1,40 


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1.4    II!  1.6 


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352 


ECCLESIASTICAL  IlISTOKY 


t 


With  such  an  enthusiastic  people  wo  may  bo  sure  the  work 
of  construction  was  not  porniittod  to  flag.  But  even  allow- 
ing for  all  this  zeal  and  energy,  it  still  remains  a  wonder  and 
a  prodigy  that  such  a  building,  equal  in  size  and  architecture 
to  many  of  those  which,  in  the  Old  World,  have  taken 
centuries  to  build,  should  be  erected  in  Newfoundland,  and 
that,  too,  in  such  an  incredibly  short  space  as  nine  years  ; 
for  the  foundation-stone  was  not  laid  till  1841,  and  Dr. 
Fleming  had  the  consoling  happiness  of  celebrating  the  first 
Mass  in  it  in  1850,  a  few  months  only  before  his  death. 

For  nearly  three  years  after  the  securing  of  the  ground 
the  tinie  was  employed  in  gathering  in  material  from  all  sides. 
Like  Solomon  of  old,  he  sent  levies  of  men  into  the  forests 
to  "  hew  the  fir  and  the  cedars,"  and  to  "  liew  stones  in  the 
mountains ;  and  to  bring  great  stones,  costly  stones,  for  the 
foundations  of  the  temple,  and  to  square  them."'  The  re- 
mainder of  his  life  was  principally  taken  up  with  this  great 
work,  and  he  made  many  voyages  to  England  to  procure 
materials  and  further  the  work.  While  the  stones  were  beinjj 
quarried  in  Kelly's  Island,  in  Conception  Bay,  he  lived  there 
in  a  hut,  used  the  pick  and  crowbar,  and  assisted  to  carry 
the  stones  to  the  water's  edge,  whence  they  were  gratuitously 
conveyed  to  St.  John's  by  the  owners  and  captains  of  our 
vessels.  "He  might,  however,"  writes  Dr.  Mullock,  "have 
avoided  this  unnecessary  fatigue,  and  the  affair  could  as  well 
be  carried  on  under  his  direction  ;  but  such  was  his  disposi- 
tion and  anxiety  to  do  everything  himself." 

The  material  of  which  the  cathedral  is  built  (with  the  ex- 
ception of  the  ambulatory  walls,  which  are  of  Kelly-Island 
stone)  was  [)rincipally  imported  from  Ireland.  The  main 
walls  are  faced  with  cut  limestone  from  Galway,  and  the 


throufih  the  statute  o'  St.  John  on  the  arch  below  !  "  And,  sure  cnouiih,  tliouph  St. 
John  would  have  escaped  the  dissection,  not  havni;^  been  placed  there  till  nmnj' ycai's 
after,  yet  the  line  wonld  certainly  liiive  run  in  such  ii  manner  as  to  have  destroyed  the 
grand  pia/./.a  of  the  eatiiedral.  It  is,  indeed,  ainusinf;  to  think  tliat,  after  all  the  reports 
and  investigations  of  military  and  civil  authorities,  continuinjx  for  over  three  years,  tlic 
whole  affair  should  in  tiie  end  ho  decided  by  Micklc's  havinjf  overcome  his  scruples 
about  making  "  a  crooked  furrow  "  ! 


i 


OF  NEWFOUNDLAND. 


353 


quoins,  mouldings,  belting,  .and  base  courses,  window-frames, 
hciids,  sills,  and  mullions,  are  of  Dublin  granite.  Dr.  Flem- 
ing sought,  at  first,  for  cut  stone  from  the  neighboring 
colonies.  On  the  29th  of  June,  1839,  lie  wrote  Michael 
Tobin,  Esq.,  of  Halifax,  inquiring  about  freestone,  which 
he  hoars  can  be  had  on  very  r(!asonal)le  terms  in  Nova 
Scotia.  He  had  seen  some  which  had  been  lately  imported 
from  there  for  the  new  Custom-House  which  appeared  very 
good.  This  elFort  failed  evidently,  as  there  is  no  freestone 
in  the  cathedral.  These  two  years  of  preparation  were  ji 
period  of  contiiuied  bustle  and  excitement  in  St.  ♦John's.  Day 
after  day  schooners  and  vessels  were  arriving  with  stone  from 
Kelly's  Island  and  Europe,  and  gangs  of  citizens  were  told 
oif  to  uidoad  them  at  the  "  Bishop's  "Wharf"  and  the  Ord- 
nance Wharf,  which  had  been  kindly  loaned.  All  classes  of 
the  peo[)le  —  tradesmen,  shopkeepers,  laborers,  farmers  — 
attended  in  turn,  vying  with  each  other  in  their  enthusiasm. 

"Never,"  says  Dr,  Mullock,  "even  in  the  Ages  of  Faith, 
did  a  })eople  exhibit  greater  enthusiasm  than  did  the  New- 
foundlanders in  the  erection  of  this  temple.  Hundreds  and 
thousands  of  tons  of  stone,  landed  at  the  Bishop's  Wharf 
by  the  gratuitous  labor  of  the  people,  were  by  them  gratui- 
tously carted  to  the  cathedral  grounds  three  hundred  feet  over 
the  level  of  the  water.  One  day  a  thousand  tons  of  cut 
granite,  for  (iuoii)«,  window  mouldings,  iiP.d  string  courses, 
would  arrive  frcnn  Dublin;  in  a  few  days  the  whole  would 
be  landed  and  dei)osited  on  the  cathedral  ground  without  a 
shillini::'s  exi)ense  for  laI)or  or  cart-hire.  Ai^ain,  cariroes  of 
stone  from  Kelly's  Island  would  continually  arrive,  gratui- 
tously conveyed  in  ships  belonging  to  St.  John's  and  the  out- 
ports  ;  and  again  the  })eople,  day  after  day,  month  after 
month,  year  after  year,  discharged  them,  and  convened  them 
to  the  building,  untiringly  laboring  for  the  glory  of  God.*' 


As  to  Dr.  Fleming  himself,  he  seemed  endowed  with  super- 


natural streuijth. 


He  crossed  the  Atlantic  again  in  1840. 


SH 


ECCLESIASTICAL  IIISTOKY 


And  wc  may  form  sonic  idou  of  his  Inbors  from  the  followinir 
extract  from  a  letter  written  to  the  (^irdinal  Prefect  of 
Propaganda,  on  tiie  2.'}d  Septcnd)er,  1841.  His  Emiiienco 
had  written  to  Dr,  Fh;ming  in  Xovemher,  1840,  inviting  him 
to  visit  Rome,  and,  having  received  no  response,  wrote  again 
in  January,  1841.  This  letter  also  reniainmg  unanswered, 
the  Cardinal  writes  in  a  rather  severe  tone  in  July,  1S41, 
enclosing  copies  of  the  former  letters,  and  c()mi)laining  that, 
though  he  (Dr.  Fleming)  had  visited  Kurope  suhseciuenlly,  ho 
had  not  come  to  Rome.  Having  cxj)lained  that  he  did  not 
receive  the  letters,  they  having  been  unaccountal)ly  mislaid, 
Dr.  Fleming  continiu's  :  "  In  good  truth,  had  I  really  n^eeived 
the  letters,  notwithstanding  the  jjrofound  respect  and  venera- 
tion which  I  entertain  towards  the  Sacred  Congregation,  it 
would  have  been  imi)ossible  for  me  to  comply  with  the 
request.  .  .  .  My  whole  stay  (in  Europe)  only  amounted 
to  the  short  space  of  six  weeks,  and  during  that  time  I  had 
no  opportunity  of  enjoying  one  day's  repose.  I  had  to  visit 
Ireland,  whence  to  procure  three  additional  priests  ;  I  had  to 
make  arrangements  for  their  passages  ;  1  had  to  superintend 
the  makinjr  of  models  for  the  ornamental  stone  necessary  for 
our  ncAV  cathedral ;  I  had  to  look  to  the  cutting  of  that  stone 
in  Dublin  ;  I  had  to  procure  an  engraving,  to  be  cut,  of  the 
new  edifice  in  a  state  of  completion,  that  the  sale  of  the 
plates  might  increase  the  resources  for  the  building;  I  had 
to  fly  to  IJirmingham  to  procure  medals  connnemorative  of 
the  laying  of  the  foundation-stone,  which  I  intended  should 
take  place  early  in  the  ensuing  spring,  in  order  b^'  their  sale 
to  still  further  augment  my  funds;  I  had  to  hurry  to  Liver- 
pool to  contract  for  vessels  to  bring  out  the  so-cut  stone  at 
the  oi)ening  of  the  new  year ;  and  ever  and  anon  to  adopt 
every  ofler  of  a  vessel  departing  for  Newfoundland  to  expe- 
dite my  works  there  in  progress.  jNIy  days  were  one 
unbroken  round  of  toil ;  my  nights  given  more  to  thought, 
and  thv'i  transmission  of  those  thoughts  to  paper,  than  to 
repose,  until  at  last  I  had,  in  that  short  space,  matured  all 
my  business.     I  once  more  returned  to  Liverpool  to  take 


ip* 


OF  NEWFOUNDLAND. 


mi 


shippiiii^  for  Xowfoiindliind,  wliorc,  now  oxhiiustod  and  suh- 
(lucd,  my  health  f'iiili'd  nio,  and  my  sliattcMrd  and  harassed 
frame  sank  upon  the  Ixrd,  whence  for  tlio  first  tin»o  I  arose 
only  It)  step  on  board  the  vessel  and  brave  the  hardships  of 
a  voyaiie  of  two  thousand  miles." 

On  his  arrival  on  this  occasion  he  was  ofreeted  with  more 
than  the  ordinary  cxi)ressions  of  joy  and  welcrome.  In 
October,  shortly  afti'r  his  arrival,  he  addressed  the  people 
from  the  altar  in  a  most  fervent  expression  of  thankfulness 
to  them  and  uratitude  to  God  for  the  great  success  which  had 
thus  far  attended  iheir  irlorious  ellbrts,  and  he  gives  a  graphic 
account  of  the  state  of  the  works. 

There  were  many  who  had  directly  opposed  the  great 
work,  and  others  who  looked  on  inditrcrcntly,  who,  not 
enlightened  and  sustained  by  the  burning  faith  with  which 
animated  his  own  l)reast,  looked  upon  his  ellbrts  with  a  sneer 
of  contempt  as  the  vain  attempt  «)f  an  enthusiastic  dreamer. 
"It  is  imi)ossible,"  they  said,  "  to  (iomplete  such  a  work  in 
Newfoundland  I ''  Dr.  Fleming  had  said  that  lu>  would  have 
the  v.hole  |)lot  of  land  fenced  in  in  half  an  hour.  "Impos- 
sible !  "  said  his  op[)()nents  ;  an<l  they  calculated  the  immenso 
number  of  posts  and  shores,  the  stupendous  (]uantity  of 
longures,  th<!  masses  of  nails.  "It  could  not  be  done  in  a 
fortnight."  "So  it  had  I)eeii  with  the  croakers,  even  from  the 
very  dawn  of  the  faith.  'There  is  a  lad  here,' said  one  of 
old  to  flesus,  'who  has  iive  barley  loaves  and  two  little 
tlshes ;  but  what  are  they  among  so  many?'  You  know 
the  secjuel.  Jesus  blessed  them,  and  they  fed  the  multitude 
of  live  thousand,  and  there  were  twelve  baskets  of  scraps 
left.  We  had  given  //((Jf  an  hour  for  the  work  of  the 
fencing;  but  (Jod  blessed  it,  and  you  accomplished  it  \n  (en 
miniUcs;  and  there  remained  as  nuich  material  as  would  fence 
it  over  again." 

In  his  letter  to  the  Society  of  the  Propagation  of  (he  Faith 
he  describes  more  minutely  the  scene  of  the  fencing  of  the 
ground:  "The  I'cfusal  of  the  Governor  to  give  (he  land 
brought  me  a  fourth  time  across  the  ocean.     Nor  did  I  leave 


a')6 


ECCLESIASTICAL  HISTORY 


t 
.«■■■' J 


London  until  1  learnt  that  the  grant  bad  actually  been  placed 
in  the  bands  of  my  curate,  and  the  ground  taken  jjos.session 
of.  Tbo  concession  was  announced  on  Sunday  to  tho  con- 
gregation, and  they  were  asked  to  belp  to  fence  the  land. 
.  The  morning  proved  auspicious.  At  an  early  hour 
every  part  of  the  town  was  fdled  with  joyous  groups  making 
preparation  for  tho  event.  At  10  o'clock  the  church  bell 
rang  out,  and  innnediately  all  assembled  at  the  ground.  Tho 
old  and  tho  young,  the  healthy  and  the  intirm,  even  tho 
Monien  and  children  ;  .  .  .  and  so  had  they,  as  if  by 
conunon  impulse,  disposed  themselves  that  where  there  were 
persons  too  young  or  too  feeble  to  assist  in  the  erection  of 
the  fence,  some  of  them  brought  ix  few  pickets,  some  a  few 
nails,  some  a  saw,  some  a  hanuuer,  or  some  such  implement. 
All  then  took  up  tlusir  positions  around  the  space  to  be 
enclosed,  supi)lied  with  the  necessary  posts  and  shores  and 
longures,  and  in  less  than  Iwentij  minutes  these  nine  acres 
of  ground  were  enclosed  with  a  substantial  fence  six  feet 
high." 

To  continue  Dr.  Fleming's  discourse  in  the  "Old  Chapel'" :  — 

"It  was  impossible,  said  my  opponents,  to  bring  the 
stone  from  Kelly's  Island  ;  but  God  insjjired  his  peo[)le,  and 
the  work  was  accomplished.  Finally,  it  was  impossihle  to 
move  it  to  the  cathedral  ground.  Yet  it  is  now  laid  tlu^re 
ready  for  the  hammer  of  the  mason.  •  .  .  What  shall  I 
say  to  you  who  have  "worked  so  well  and  so  faithfully  in  tho 
sacred  cause  ?  II(/W  can  I  thank  the  lisherinen  of  Newfound- 
land? How  shall  I  repay  the  farmers  and  the  laborers  the 
deei)  del)t  of  gratitude  I  owe  them?  AA'hat  return  shall  I 
make  to  the  mechanics  and  shopkeepers?  Oh!  a  life  of 
service  could  not  be  regarded  as  an  equivalent.  It  is  God 
only,  that  God,  for  the  promotion  of  whose  divine  worship 
they  have  labored,  that  can  reward  them.  .  .  .  You  will 
bo  gratified,  my  dear  people,  to  learn  that  at  this  moment 
there  are  ui)wards  of  sixty  stone-cutters  eni[)l()yed  in  pre- 
paring cut  stone  in  Dublin,  which  I  shadl  have  ready  for 


OF  NEWFOUNDLAND. 


367 


exportation  by  the  first  vessels  in  sprin<^,  a  sciison  whpn 
froi«^'it.s  from  Ireland  are  always  lowest,  and  it  is  no  harfii 
for  us  to  save  some  five  or  six  hundred  [)ounds  in  freight,  l 
have  also  ordered  400,000  of  brick  from  Hamburg. 
Thus  will  I  be  provided  with  such  a  (juantity  of  material  as 
will  enable  me  to  conunence  the  work  without  further  delay. 

"  I  have  also  come  provided  with  a  model  of  the  work,  — 
not  a  picture  or  a  painting,  —  but  a  cathedral  church  \n 
miniature.  The  whole  edifice  eonndcte  :  its  aisles,  porticos, 
towers,  ambulatories,  altars,  sanctuary,  and  all,  constructed 
in  the  most  exact  synuuetry  and  proportion,  whereby  we 
shall  effect  a  still  further  saving  in  the  construction,  and 
greatly  facilitate  the  progress  of  the  work."  He  then  calls 
upon  the  schooner-owners  to  bring  more  stone  in  the  spring, 
"  for,  great  as  is  the  mass  of  stone  upon  the  ground,  I  assure 
you  we  are  far  from  having  a  sufficiency." 

The  preparations  weic  now  so  far  advanced  that  there  was 
no  doubt  that  all  would  be  ready  for  the  great  event  early  in 
the  ensuing  spring.  And  at  length,  on  the  20th  of  May, 
1841,  the  foundation-stone  was  solenmly  blessed  and  laid  by 
Dr.  Fleming  with  all  the  imposing  ceremonies  of  the  Catholic 
Church,  and  the  work  really  conunenced. 

The  following  description  is  from  a  local  newspaper,  "The 
Newfoundlander,"  of  Thursday,  May  20,  1841  :  — 

LAYING    OF   THE     FOUNDATION-STONE    OF   THE     CATHOLIC 

CATHEDRAL. 

"On  Thursday  last,  the  day  appointed  for  the  purpose, 
this  interesting  ceremony  took  place.  At  12  o'clock  the 
procession  conunenced  forming  at  Ihe  Roman  Catholic  chapel, 
and  soon  after  moved  slowly  onwards,  proceeding  down 
Queen's  Street,  through  Water  Street,  and  to  the  cathedral 
ground  by  Cochrane  Street.  The  day  was  not  particularly 
favoraI)le,  but  the  weather  continued  sufTiciently  fine  to  admit 
of  the  proceedings  of  the  day  being  terminated  without 
much  inconvenience.  Competent  judges,  who  viewed  the 
multitude  on  the  ground,  estimated  the  numl)er  assembled  at 


;5r)8 


ECCLESIASTICAL  HISTORY 


ten  to  twelve  thousiind  ;  and  we  think  it  did  not  fall  short  of 
it,  for,  as  the  procession  proeet'ded,  it  seemed  as  though  it 
woidd  never  end.  After  tiie  ceremony  of  hiying  the  stono 
had  been  gone  through  a  sliort  but  impressive  ad(h'ess  was 
delivered  by  the  Kight  Rev.  Dr.  Fleming,  pointing  out  the 
importance  of  the  great  work  lie  had  now  conunenced,  of  the 
difficulties  lliat  stood  in  the  way  of  its  accomplishnuMit,  but 
which  he  conlidcntly  expected  to  surmount.  A  collection 
was  then  opened  on  the  ground,  and  the  handsome  sum  of 
£2, GOO  ($10,400)  raised  on  the  spot.  The  proposcnl  edifice 
is  to  be  on  a  scale  of  magnitude  unequalled  in  any  of  the 
North  American  colonics.  It  will  be  a  stupendous  work  ; 
but  the  energy,  perseverance,  and  zeal  of  Dr.  Fleming  will, 
we  think,  be  sufficient  eventually  to  accom[)lish  it,  for  in 
the  furtherance  of  the  interests  of  the  Church  over  which  ho 
presides  he  allows  no  obstacle  to  arrest  his  ctToris,  no  diffi- 
culties to  stand  in  the  way  of  what  he  conceives  calculated 
to  promote  her  advancement.  It  is  because  of  all  this  that 
we  look  to  the  successful  progress  of  this  herculean  under- 
taking, which  wo  should  otherwise  deem  to  bo  wholly  im- 
practicable. 


i>i 


,    J 


PROGRAMME 


or    THB 


ORDER   OF   PROCESSION 


is' 


IN     MOVING,    THIS    DAY, 
For  the  Purpose  of  laying  the  Fouudatloii-stoiie  of  the  New  Cathedral. 


;■  I 


At  12  o'clock  persons  who  arc  disposed  to  unite  in  this  solemn  ceremony 
will  assemble  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Catholic  Clinrch,  wlicnce  tlie  procession 
will  move  by  Queen's  Street,  down  the  Lower  Street,  up  the  Hcach,  and  by 
Cochrane  Street  towards  the  Cathedral  ground,  in  the  following  order :  — 

CROSS-BEARER, 

0 

In  purple  tunic,  and  on  each  side  of  the  Cross  two  acolytes  In  white, 
carrying  waxen  torches. 


OF  NEWFOUNDLAND. 


'J^d 


TiiK  Uanu,  tliree  and  throe. 

A  Buniicr  with  a  palntiiifj  of  tlic  presfiit  I'ontlff,  (Jrogory  XVI.,  boriu-  by  a 

person  (Iri'ssed  in  scarlet. 

A  Cauvkntku, 

carrying  the  Thins,  siipporteil  on  tlie  rlffht  and  left  by  two  Masons,  one 

bearing,  on  a  cnshion,  a  scpiare  and  mallet,  and  the  other,  on 

a  similar  cusliion,  a  s(|uare  and  trowel. 

A  Ma.son, 

carrying,  on  a  cnshion,   Tlans   of  the   Altur. 

TnK  Model  ok  tiik  Catiucduai., 

supported  l)y  four  persons  with  sashes. 

Masons,  two  and  two,  witli  aprons;  Tradesmen  In  general,  two  and  two. 
A  Painting  of  tiie  IJedeemer,  carried  l)y  a  person  in  white. 
Female  Children,  three  and  three;  Ciiristian  Doctrine  Society,  two  ami 
two ;  Boys,  three  and  three. 
A  Painting  of  St.  John,  supported  by  two  persoas  wearing  white 
sashes  on  each  shoulder. 
Fishermen,  three  and  three ;  Mochaidcs'  Society,  with  tlieir  own  banners. 
Benevolent  Irish  Society,  with  their  own  i)anners,  and  pre- 
ceded by  two  persons  carrying  the  embroidered 
figure  of  St.  Patriclv. 
Farmers,  three  and  three,  preceded  by  one  bearing  a  figure  of 
Daniel  U'CJoimell. 
Gentlemen,  tliree  and  three. 
A  Band. 
A  Banner  witli  a  llgnre  of  the  Queen. 

Society  of  the  Blessed  Virgin  Mary,  three  and  three,  preceded  by  two 

persons  bearing  a  painting  of  the  Blessed  Virgin. 

A  Puir.sT, 

carrying  in  his  liands  a  c<)i)per  ))ox  containing  the  parchment  with   tlie 

inscriptions,  coins,  latest  periodicals,  etc.,  and  supported  on 

the  riglit  and  left  l)y  two  Clergymen,  one  bearing  in 

his  liaiids  a  vase  lllled  witli  Holy  Water, 

and  the  otlier  an  Asperges. 

Pkiksts, 

two  anil  two. 

Tiik  Bishop, 

supported  by  two  Priests. 


360 


ECCLESIASTICAL  HISTORY 


The  foundatioii-stono  was  a  Iiuf^e  mass  of  granite  alwut 
two  lonn  in  weight.  It  wa«  phiced  under  tiio  corner  of  tho 
weHtern  tower.  In  the  cavity  was  placed  a  parchment  roll 
with  the  following  inscription  :  — 


} 


Co  t[)c  6rot  ]£)omx  iinb  6lori)  of  6ob. 


THIS  FIRST  STONE   OF  THE  CATHOLIC  CATHEDRAL  OF  ST.  JOHN'S, 

NEWFOUNDLAND, 
DEDICATED    TO    THE    MOST    HIGH    GOD,    UNDER    THE    PATRONAGE 

OF 
THE     BLESSED     ST.     JOHN     THE      BAPTIST,     WAS     LAID      BY     THE 

RIGHT    REV.    DR.    FLEMING, 
IN      THE     PRESENCE      OF     THE      PRIESTS     WHOSE      NAMES     ARE 

HEREUNTO    SUBSCRIBED, 
AND    SEVERAL    THOUSANDS    OF   OTHER    PERSONS,    ON    THURSDAY 

20TH    DAY    OF    MAY, 

IN     THE    YEAR    OF    OUR     REDEMPTION    1841,     IN     THE     4TH     YEAR 

OF    THE    REIGN    OF    HER    MOST    GRACIOUS    MAJESTY 

QUEEN    VICTORIA, 

AND    THE    ELEVENTH    OF    THE    PONTIFICATE    OF     HIS     HOLINESS 

POPE   GREGORY    XVI. 


The  following  are  the  names  of  the  priests  who  signed  the 
document,  all  of  whom  have  gone  to  their  reward  :  — 


Very  Rev,  C.  Dalton, 
Very  Kev.  Denis  Mackin, 
Rev.  Thomas  "VValdron, 
Rev.  James  Murphy, 
Rev.  P.  K.  Cleary, 
Rev.  Pelagius  Novvlan, 


Rev.  r.  K.  Ward, 
Rev.  J  no.  Foristal, 
Rev.  Jno.  Cummings, 
Rev.  Kyran  Walsh, 
Rev.  Ed.  O'Keefe, 
Rev.  John  Ryan. 


p  m^-. 


OF  NEWFOUNDLAND. 


361 


Ut 

iie 


Tho  foundation  of  the  ciithodral  of  St.  John's  murks  tho 
coninicnciMnent  of  a  r<'niarkal)lc  era  in  the  history  of  Now- 
foundhuul.  "One  {jfencration  after  another,"  writes  Dr. 
]\Iullo('k,  "of  adv(Milurer,s  retired  with  wealth,  hut  still  New- 
foundland remained  a  pathless  wilderness,  without  roads, 
without  postal  eomnumiealion,  even,  with  the  mother-eoun- 
try ;  without  any  improvement  sinee  the  days  tho  red 
Indiiiiis  roamed  throujrh  tho  land,  unless  a  t'vw  wooden 
stores,  some  wooden  villaj^es  seattered  alonj^  the  sea-eoast, 
and  a  misi'rahle  wooden  town  for  its  eapital.  The  erection 
of  the  lar«>:est  elmrvh  in  North  America,  on  the  most  com- 
manding position  in  St.  John's,  was  a  <rrand  protest  that 
Newfoundland  was  no  longer  to  be  merely  the  home  of  a 
migratory  fishing  ])opulation  ;  but  that  henci;lbrth  she  should 
take  a  place  among  the  infant  nations  of  tho  New  World, 
destined,  from  her  position,  her  resources,  and  Ikm-  maritime 
population,  to  bo  hereafter  the  Queen  of  the  Northern 
Ocean  !  " 


The  work  of  tho  cathedral  progressed  rapidly,  so  that  Dr. 
Fleming,  writing  in  1848,  was  able  to  say  :  — 


the 


"The  main  walls  of  this  noble  edifice  are  now  raised  about 
thirty  feet,  and  the  extern  walls  are  finished  ;  yet  I  am 
obliged  to  pause  until  I  shall  have  obtained  from  Ireland 
a  sufficient  (juantity  of  cut  stone  for  its  compU^tion.  Hut  it 
has  often  been  a  subject  of  remark  how  it  happens  that  I, 
who  can  conunand  such  assistance  from  my  people,  should 
come  to  Ireland  for  cut  stone?  Sim^jly  because  the  differ-' 
ence  of  wages  paid  in  colonies  and  in  Ireland  tnore  than 
meets  the  amount  of  freight  to  Newfoundland,  as  vessels  en- 
•raiied  in  the  North  Ameiican  timber  trade,  bcin<x  o'oliucd 
generally  to  go  out  in  ballast,  are  ready  to  take  freight  at 
what  will  barely  pay  the  expenses  of  the  voyage.  As  it  is 
necessary  that  new  contracts  bo  now  entered  into  for  the  re- 
mainder of  the  building,  I  therefore  found  it  re(]uisile  to 
revisit  Ireland  once  more  for  this  purpose ;  for  it  is  only  iu 


362 


KCCLKSIASTICAL   HISTORY 


''I 


winter  I  coukl  think  rf  absenting  myself  from  Newfoundland, 
even  for  the  shortest  period,  without  materially  interfering 
with  the  pronvess  of  this  structure  ;  and  although  I  am  quite 
sensible  of  the  ditiiculties  before  me,  yet  my  reliance  is  upon 
the  benevolence  of  the  faithful ;  and  when  I  reflect  that  in  all 
my  undertakings  hitherto,  however  great  the  expense,  and 
however  limited  my  humble  means  of  meeting  it,  Heaven 
was  always  ready  to  open  a  way  to  their  accomi)lishment. 
I  must  say  that  I  have  never  entertained  a  doubt  that  He 
who  i)lanned  the  great  temple  of  antiijuity  and  endowed  it 
with  the  wealth  of  the  nations  of  the  world  ;  and  He  who, 
upon  the  base  of  the  huml)lc  fishermen  of  Galilee,  reared  a 
chuich  cons|)icuoi:-:  for  its  grandeur,  and  magnificence,  and 
extent,  will  not  withhold  His  assistance  when  there  is  a 
question  of  raising  up  in  the  midst  of  the  wilderness  a  teni- 
ple  to  Ilis  w  i'shii),  intended  to  attract  the  wanderers  to  the 
fold,  and  to  last  for  ages  as  a  monument  of  our  fidelity  to 
that  creed  to  which  we  are  devoted.  When  there  is  a  ques- 
tion of  the  estal)lishment  of  an  edifice  where  the  little  ones 
of  His  promise  shall  be  brought  up  in  the  ways  of  peace,  and 
schooled  in  the  i)aths  of  virtue  and  religion,  He  will  open  the 
hearts  of  the  faithful  followers  of  His  sacred  cross  to  lend 
their  cordial  and  zealous  assistance." 


•si  I 


Nevertheless,  some  mistakes  were  connnitted  in  the  fur- 
therance of  the  work.  He  unfortunately  endeavored  to 
carry  out  the  building  without  tiic  su[)erintendenco  of  a 
<|ualified  architect,  and,  in  conse(|uonce,  met  many  grievous 
disappointments;  portions  of  the  work  had  t(>  be  taken  down 
before  it  was  conq)leted,  and  tlu;  roof  had  to  be  renewed 
inunediately  after  his  death.  He  was  also  fre(]uenfly  de- 
ceived in  the  i)urcliase  of  aaterials.  He  labored  under  one 
great  diliiculty,  the  want  of  good  workmen.  Very  few  stone 
buildings  then  existed  in  the  city.  The  churches,  court- 
iiouse,  and  publi  offices  were  all  of  wood.  Architectural 
beauty  or  dural)ility  were  not  thought  of,  and,  consetiuently, 
skilled  workmen,  especially  masons  and  stone-cutters,  were 


-P    V^kWU", 


OF   NEWFOUNDLAND. 


863 


with  difficulty  procured.  It  was,  then,  a  herculean  task  to 
undertake  such  a  huildini^,  and  while  his  whole  enerj^ics 
were  given  to  the  work,  a  constant  fire  of  conii)laints  was 
kept  u^)  against  him  at  the  Colonial  Office  and  the  Propa- 


ganda. 


In  184(3  occurred  the  ever-memorable  fire.  Dr.  Fleming 
was  in  England  at  the  time,  as  has  already  l)cen  stated.  He 
lost  by  the  fire  £4,000  ($16,000),  and  on  his  return  to  St. 
John's  he  a[)plied  for  a  portion  of  the  money  collected  in 
Engliiiid  (£31, 51(5  stg.)  for  the  restoration  of  the  city  of 
St.  John's,  but  was  refused. 

Notwithstanding  the  great  blow  received  from  "  The  Fire 
of  '46,"  which  also  laid  in  ashes  his  beautiful  new  convent, 
the  energetic  Pre!':te  still  pushed  on  the  great  work  of  the 
cathedral.  In  June,  IH-iS,  he  describes,  in  a  connnunication 
to  the  Society  for  the  Propagation  of  the  Faith,  the  state  of 
the  building:  "It  is  now,  in  the  seventh  year  after  the 
laying  of  the  first  stone,  brought  so  near  to  completion  that 
the  oldest  man  who  looked  upon  its  connnencement  may  not 
unreasonably  hope  to  be  spared  to  see  it  opened  for  divine 
worshii)."  And  notwithstanding  the  series  of  misfortunes 
which  the  country  met  with  during  those  years  from  fire, 
temi)ests,  etc.  (for  the  "Year  of  the  fire"  is  known  also 
as  the  "Year  of  the  gale"),  yet  the  church  is  clear  of  all 
del)t.  "  Nor  shall  we  owe  a  shilling  until  the  completion  of 
the  altars,  which  will  be  about  the  middle' of  next  sununer." 

During  the  year  1848  and  1849  Dr.  Fleming  was  in  corre- 
spoiidence  with  Messrs.  Tobin,  of  Halifax,  Gilmore  and 
Kankin  and  others,  of  New  Brunswick,  in  relation  to  the 
timber  re(|uired  for  the  cathedral.  In  a  letter  to  Dr.  Dol- 
lard,  Bishoi)  of  New  Brunswick,  31st  January,  1848,  he 
speaks  of  the  cathedral  as  follows  ;  — 


"I  have  now  completed  the  structure  of  this  beautiful 
edifice  as  to  the  externals.  The  walls,  the  roof,  and  the 
towers  are  all  finished,  and  I  have  oidy  the  interior  now  to 
struggle  through."    "But  this," ho  says,  "considering  the  si/o 


3fi4 


ECCLESIASTICAL   HISTORY 


of  the  building  and  the  state  of  the  poor  people,  stricken  by 
fire,  by  tenii)est,  and  by  famine,   is  a  matter  of  no  mean 


magnitude." 


This  is  tlie  hist  letter  extant  concerning  the  great  work  of 
Dr.  Fleming's  episcopate.  At  the  risk  of  becoming  tedious 
I  have  tliought  it  well  to  dwell  at  length  on  these  touching 
pictures  drawn  by  the  holy  Bishop  at  the  very  time  that 
he  was  occupied,  mind,  and  soul,  and  heart,  with  his  stupen- 
dous enterprise.  It  is  true  they  are  more  matters  of  biog- 
raphy than  history  ;  but  as  these  pnges  are  written  chiefly 
for  Newfoundlanders,  who  cherish  with  fond  allection  the 
remembrance  of  those  glorious  days,  I  would  deem  this 
work  imperfect  were  I  to  omit  any  portion  of  these  descrip- 
tions. The  finishing  and  adorning  of  the  cathedral,  the 
erection  of  the  grand  altars,  the  placing  of  all  the  splendid 
works  of  art,  painting,  statuary,  mosaic,  etc.,  belong  rather 
to  the  life  of  Dr.  Mullock  than  Dr.  Fleming,  and  shall  be 
treated  of  at  length  in  a  future  volume.  For  the  present  I 
conclude  this  chapter  by  repeating,  that  Dr.  Fleming  lived 
to  see  this  crowning  laljor  of  his  lite  and  love  so  far  com- 
l)leted  that  he  was  able  to  celebrate  the  first  Mass  in  it  on 
Easter  Sunday,  l.S.'iO,  though  he  was  so  weak  in  health  that 
he  was  obliged  to  have  a  chair  placed  at  the  altar,  on  which 
he  rested  several  times  duriujr  the  sacred  function. 


OF   NEWFOUNDLAND. 


365 


CHAPTER  XXV. 

THE  MERCY   NUNS.—  [1837-1830.] 

Persecution  of  Dr.  Flcmiiif]:  —  The  "Secret  Afliilavits  "  —  His  Visit  to  Rome  — 
Honor  Conferred  on  him  by  the  I'opo  —  Appointed  Domestic  I'rolute  to  His 
Holiness  and  Assistant  at  tiie  rontifical  Tlu'one  —  Introduction  of  the  Sisters  of 
Mercy  (1842) — Arrival  of  tlie  Nuns — Kntiiusiastic  Reception  —  Sister  Frances 
Creedon  —  Sister  Joseph  Nu;.'cnt — Motlier  Mary  Vincent  —  The  "  Faniitio 
Fever"  (1848) —The  Cholera  (18r)6) —Tlie  Orphanage  —  Mother  Xavier  — The 
New  Oiphanage —  St.  Bride's  Academy. 


FROINI  what  has  been  written  in  the  hist  chapter,  showing 
the  ahnost  horcnlean  hihorsof  Dr.  Fleniiuii'  in  the  i)nsii- 
injr  on  of  the  great  and  i:i<iantic  work,  the  hiiildin"'  of  the 
cathedral,  it  might  Avell  bo  thought  that  it  would  have 
absorbed  every  faculty  of  his  mind,  every  energy  of  his 
body,  every  moment  of  his  time  ;  yet  it  was  not  so  ;  for 
during  this  i)eriod,  notwilh.  tanding  his  fre(]iient  oyage-s 
across  the  ocean,  his  Hying  .'"rom  one  city  to  another,  con- 
sulting with  architects  and  modellers  ;  making  contracts  with 
workmen  and  superintending  their  operations ;  arranging 
for  tlie  transshipment  of  material  to  Newfoundland,  and  the 
thousand  other  details  connected  with  his  undertaking,  ho 
coptrived  to  pay  his  olHcial  visit  to  Rome  {ad  Ihiihia),  and 
there  to  draw  u[)  and  publish  in  Italian  his  "  lielazione,"  u 
most  exhaustive  treatise  on  the  state  of  the  Mission.  He 
also  undertook,  during  the  most  active  years  of  the  cathedral 
progress,  the  introduction  of  the  Sisters  of  Mercy,  a  woi-k 
which  alone  would  have  been  sufHcient  to  mono])()li/e  all  the 
attention  of  an  ordinary  man.  But,  besides  all  these  mat- 
ters ap[)ertaining  more  itnmcdiafely  tt)  his  spirituid  charge, 
he  took  a  most  active  i)art  in  tlie  new  j)olitical  life  of  the 
colony,  just  then  develoj)ing  itself,  liut  v,  luit  is  most 
wonderful  is,  that  all  this  time  he  was  the  sul)ject  of  a 
constant  attack,  and  a  species  of  persecution,  which  would 


366 


ECCLESIASTICAL  HISTORY 


I  1 


have  prevented  one  of  a  different  disposition  from  giving  at- 
tention to  any  serious  matter ;  in  fact,  would  have  driven  him 
to  despair.  All  this,  however,  only  seemed  to  nerve  Dr. 
Fleming  on  to  greater  deeds,  and  to  add  new  determination 
to  his  will,  new  force  to  his  physical  |)owers. 

This  systematic  and  relentless  ojjposition  Dr.  Fleming 
had  to  contend  with  throughout  the  whole  of  his  episcopate  ; 
and  wliat  made  it  more  jjainful  was  that  it  came,  as  it  were, 
from  "his  own  household  ;"  that  is  to  say,  a  certain  i)arty  of 
his  own  flock,  who  seemed  disposed  to  condenm  and  criti- 
cise all  his  actions.  It  was  amazing  to  what  lengths  this 
cabal  proceeded,  leaving  no  stone  unturned  to  procure  the 
disu'.isfsal  or  withdrawal  from  the  country  of  this  nohle  Prelate. 
First,  the  civil  arm  was  tried:  complaints  wei'e  madt  to  the 
Colonial  Office  accusing  him  of  disloyal  conduct.  The  prcj- 
uilices  of  the  local  governor  (Captain  Prescott)  were  en- 
listed against  him,  and  a  series  of  affidavits,  secreflt/  taken 
by  him,  were  sent  to  London  ;  but  all  to  no  pur})ose.  Then 
the  spiritual  power  was  enlisted  :  liishops  and  Prelates  in  high 
authority  in  London  and  in  Lome  were,  ])y  false  representa- 
tions, persuaded  to  raise  the  cry  against  him ;  and,  finally, 
Lord  John  Russell,  then  Prime  Minister,  ordered  the 
Foreign  Secretary  to  connnunicate  with  the  Austrian  Minis- 
ter, Prince  Metternich,  to  have  the  complaints  against  Dr. 
Fleming  laid  before  llie  court  of  Rome.  As  long  as  the 
accusations  were  confined  within  local  and  colonial  limits, 
Dr.  Fleming  could  afford  to  desi)ise  them,  and,  as  it  were, 
trample  them  down  by  the  great  moral  strength  of  his 
character  and  that  almost  heroic  confidence  which  he  felt 
from  the  inward  conviction  of  being  right.  lUit  when  efforts 
were  made  to  damage  his  character  in  Rome,  then,  at  last,  a 
sensitive  })oint  was  touched,  and  he  felt  himself  moved  to 
action  to  vindicate  his  doings.  In  the  year  1837  he  went  to 
Rome.  He  was  received  with  the  most  marked  courtesy, 
lintl  triumphantly  vindicated  his  action  against  his  accusers, 
so'as  to  gain  the  highest  a[)proval  from  the  Vatican.  The 
statement  of  his  case,  already  alluded  to,  and  largely  quoted 


■ti.itMiLMh. 


OF  NEWFOUNDLAND. 


367 


from  in  this  volume,  the  "  lielnzione,"  was  so  interesting  find 
important  tliat  tlie  Holy  Father  ordered  it  to  bo  printed  at 
the  Pi'opaganda  printing-office. 

It  was  in  the  year  1837  that,  l)eing  in  England  on  one  of 
his  journeys  a1)out  securing  the  plot  of  land  for  the  cathedral, 
"  .vith  no  prospect  of  returning  to  the  home  of  my  heart,"  as 
he  writes  to  Father  Troy,  "  for  some  months  to  come,"  he 
made  up  his  mind  to  go  and  receive  the  Pontifical  Benedic- 
tion at  Kome,  as  nell  as  to  rebut  once  for  all  the  calunmies 
insinuated  against  him.  The  first  diflioulfy  to  be  encountered 
was  the  shortness  of  funds.  But  he  found  a  kind  friend  in 
a  Mr.  A^'right,  a  banker  in  London,  who  gave  him  a  letter 
of  credit  for  twice  as  much  as  he  would  require  to  spend. 
He  travelled  by  easy  stages,  "  loitering  his  time  along  the 
Continent,"  as  he  modestly  says ;  but  we  may  rest  assured 
that  his  active  mind  and  observant  eye  and  indefatig.ible 
energy  were  all  at  work  to  profit  to  the  utmost  by  this 
journey,  —  to  acquire  useful  hints  in  architecture,  or  add  to  his 
store  of  ecclesiastical  knowledge  ;  to  pick  up  rare  and  inter- 
esting books,  paintings,  and  works  of  art.  He  consequently 
did  not  arrive  in  Rome  till  the  12th  of  March,  and,  to  his 
great  regret,  he  found  that  it  was  too  late  to  be  able  to  make 
the  preliminary  arrangements  to  ena1>le  him  to  take  i)art  in 
the  ceremonies  of  Holy  Week.  In  the  first  place,  he  had 
not  the  robes  necessary  to  wear  on  beiiig  presented  at  the 
Pa[)al  court.  "  Mere  accident,  however,  put  in  my  way  the 
robes  of  a  Franciscan  Archbishop,"  wliich  had  been  left  at 
St.  Isidore's.  "But  still  I  could  not  attend  the  ceremonies 
without  being  first  j)resented,  and  it  was  too  late  for  that 
now.  Thus  was  I  situated  on  the  evening  of  the  18th  of 
March,  deploring  in  silence  my  misfortunes,  when  I  perceived 
a  dragoon  gall()[)ing  towards  the  convent  of  St.  Isidore's,  and 
I  immediately  was  presented  with  a  letter  from  the  Master 
of  the  Apostolic  Palace  informing  me  that  the  Holy  Father, 
having  learnt  of  my  arrival  and  disappointment,  had  been 
pleased  to  dispense  with  the  ceremony  of  presentation,  and 
signifying  the  desire  of  the  Pontifl'  that  I  should  attend  the 


ECCLESIASTICAL  HISTORY 


Ml 


11  i 


H  ! 


io 


functions,  and  take  my  place  anions  the  Bishops  next  day 
(Palm  Sunday),  and  that  the  Holy  Fatiier  would  give  me  an 
audience  afterwards. 

"This  was  a  very  special  favour,  particularly  as  it  was 
granted  without  memorial  or  solicitation,  either  direct  or 
indirect.  On  the  third  day  of  my  attending  the  Coppella 
/SV.sy«»o,  while  all  were  sitting,  the  Pope  on  his  throne,  the 
Cardinals  in  choir,  during  the  singing  of  the  Crer/o,  .  .  . 
I  was  conducted  from  where  I  sat,  among  Bishops  of  every 
nation,  and  placed  as  one  of  the  assistant  Prelates  to  the 
throne,  and  constituted  Chaplain  to  Ilis  Holiness." 

He  felt  overwhelmed  by  this  honor  paid  to  one  so 
insignificant  as  himself,  in  (he  presence  of  Cardinals, 
Bishops,  Princes,  and  I'relates  of  all  ranks.  He  i  lade, 
while  in  Kome,  a  collection  of  splendid  paintings,  with  other 
substantial  gifts,  for  the  benefit  of  Xewfoundland.  "  1  must 
remark,"  ho  writes,  "  that  the  greatest  enemies  are  often 
destined  by  Heaven  to  accomplish  the  greatest  amount  of 
good  for  those  against  whom  their  hostility  is  directed.  I 
would-  hardly  ever  receive  those  marked  attentions  had  not 
my  name  attracted  the  notice  of  the  court  of  liome  through 
the  medium  of  my  enemies."  He  alludes  to  a  report  set 
afloat  that  he  had  been  appointed  to  Waterford,  as  Bishop; 
again,  ^hat  he  should  not  leave  Rome.  "But,"  ho  says, 
"solemnly  before  Heaven  I  declare  there  is  not  a  situation  in 
the  Catholic  Church  I  would  accept  this  moment  if  it  were 
to  keep  me  from  Xewfoundland."  He  closes  this  very  inter- 
esting letter,  of  which  only  a  small  portion  has  been  ex- 
tracted, by  asking  Father  Troy  to  send  on  whatever  money 
he  can  possibly  s^jare.  "  The  expenses  of  a  Bishop  here  are 
enormous.  My  dress,  as  assistant  at  the  throne,  cost  200 
scudi  ($200)  ;  and  then  every  Bishop  must  keep  a  servant  in 
livery  with  an  enormous  cocked  hat." 

For  many  years  Dr.  Fleming  had  meditated  the  introduc- 
tion of  a  reliarious  Order  for  the  instruction  of  children  of  the 
more  wealthy  classes,  who  were  both  able  and  anxious  to  pay 
for  their  education.       The   institution  of  the  Prcseu'^ution 


OF  NEWFOUNDLAND. 


3G9 


Convent  was  intended  for  the  education  of  tlie  female  poor, 
not  only  of  St.  John'.s,  but  of  the  whole  Island.  "But  so 
attractive  h.id  it  proved,"  writes  Dr.  Fleniinj^  to  Archdeacon 
O'Connell,"  that  very  many  children  of  the  wealthier  classes 
have  attended  their  schools;  some  even  have  been  sent  from 
the  mo'-t  remote  parts  of  the  Island  to  oI)tain  their  education 
there,  and  not  a  few  from  the  neighlxjuring  colonies. 

"Still  did  I  feel  that  more  was  needed.  I  certainly  was 
every  day  nun  ^  and  more  gratified  at  beholding  the  hap})y 
progress  of  this  invaluable  institution,  although  for  several 
years  the  whole  burthen  of  the  -o'hool  fell  upon  the  four 
foundresses  of  the  establishment  ;  but  at  length  tluMr  great 
usefulness  attracted  (he  att'Mition  of  others,  and  four  more 
have  since  been  added,  whose  assistance  is  most  valuable.  Yet 
I  saw  tliat  so  far  I  had  onlv  provided  for  the  reliirious  instruc- 
tion  of  a  portion  of  my  people,  and  I  sighed  over  the  wants 
of  the  more  respectable,  the  more  wealthy,  and  comfortal)le 
classes,  because  the  want  of  good  female  schools  even  for 
these  was  deplorable. 

"Anspach,  in  his  'History  of  Newfoundland,'  written  in 
1815,  tells  us  such  was  the  character  of  the  intellectual  por- 
tion 'of  the  inhabitants  of  the  capital  that  Paine's  "Age  of 
Ileason "'  and  "Rights  of  Man  "  had  more  authority  among 
the  inhabitants  of  St.  Jv'hn's  than  the  sacred  Scrii)tures.  In- 
iidelily  had  taken  fast  hr  Id  of  the  i)ul)lic  mind,  and  tlic  m(>st 
detestable  o[)inions  upon  these  momentous  subjects  were  nn- 
blus'^ingly  es[)oused  and  advocated  l)y  individuals  holding 
some  of  the  most  inqjortant  situations  in  society.'  This  i)ict- 
ure,  to  be  sure,  is  drawn  by  a  Protestant  clergyman  ;  but  we 
must  admit  that  there  was  nuich  truth  in  it ;  and  to  this  mav 
be  added  the  great  laxity  that  at  that  time,  and,  indeed,  until 
recently,  prevailed  amongst  Catholics,  some  of  the  most  re- 
spectable of  whom  would  go  to  the  Protestant  church  or  to  the 
Methodist  meeting-house  oi)eidy  to  a  mid-day  or  evening 
service,  to  exhibit  their  llbevalitij.  These  things  greatly  em- 
barrassed the  morning  t.)f  my  Mission  ;  but  although  they 
have,  thank  God  !  nearly  faded  away,  yet  from  the  aping 


370 


ECCLESIASTICAL   HISTORY 


■II 

to 


IS  I 


t 


after  frcntility  (bociuisc  good  care  is  taken  by  otir  rulers  to 
keep  Protestantism  tlie  '  <;enteel  relief  ion,'  tor  the  amount 
paid  in  salaries  to  public  oflioer.s  is  upwards  of  £20,800,  an- 
luially,  and  out  of  wliieii  there  is  only  £820  paid  to  Catholics, 
and  even  this  small  sum  was  kept  from  them  until  within 
the  last  five  years,  since  when  three  Catholic  api)olntmcnts 
have  been  made)  —  from  the  aping  ^ter  gentility,  particu- 
larly amongst  those  who  wisli  to  b(>  considere<l  as  respectable 
Catholic  young  ladles,  you  would  bo  astonished  to  behold 
their  ejjgerness  to  sho\k'  themselves  oil'  at  a  Protestant  cere- 
mony, or  to  marry  iny  little  Protestant  that  may  present 
himself. 

"Thus  was  it  incumbent  on  mo,  by  every  exertion  in  my 
j)ower,  to  ap[)ly  a  remedy  to  this  evil ;  to  raise  the  character 
of  Catholicity  ;  to  give  it  a  position  in  public  estimation  that 
it  had  not  before  ;  and,  therefore,  as  no  school  had  ever  been 
established  in  ^i  jwfoundland  where  respectable  Catholic  ladies 
could  receive  a  good  and  rei'gious  education,  I  determined, 
as  the  means  best  calculated  t(;  accomplish  thi:^  end,  to  intro- 
duce a  comnmnit}'  of  nuns  of  the  Order  of  Mercy,  whose  rule 
would  permit  them  to  keep  a  pension  school;  and  in  compli- 
ance with  this  determination  I  sent  to  their  parent  institution, 
at  IJaggott  Street,  under  the  care  of  the  sainted  foundress,  the 
late  Mrs.  INIcAuley,  a  young  lady  who  had  resided  several 
years  in  Newfoundland,  and  who  was  intimately  acquainted 
with  the  (■■'•cumstances  of  the  country,  and  the  peculiar  wants 
that  I  particularly  needed  to  suppl}',  to  pass  there  h<  r  novi- 
tiate, in  order  that  she  should  return  to  mo  after  her  profes- 
sion, together  with  such  other  ladies  as  should  be  inspired  to 
accompany  her,  in  order  to  found  a  Convent  of  Mercy  at  St. 
John's  and  o[)(mi  a  school,  —  a  day-school  for  such  as  could  pay 
for  their  education,  — a  school  where  children  may  be  taught 
the  elegant  and  fashionable  accomplishments  of  the  day,  and 
at  the  same  time  may  have  their  j'oung  minds  properly  im- 
bued with  the  princii)les  of  religion.  Two  ladies  of  that 
Order  accordingly  did  come.  In  May,  1842,  th(!y  sailed  from 
Dublin,  accompanied  by  three  ladies,  postulants  for  the  Pres- 


ii 


OP  NEWFOUNDLAND. 


371 


ontiilion  convent,  and  five  priests  for  the  Mission,  iin'l  arrived 
all  in  ijood  Iiealth  at  St.  John's  after  a  passajje  ol  t".venty- 
oijLrlit  days.  The  hidies  for  \\h\  I'resentation  Order  were  at 
onee  conveyed  to  their  convent.  The  priests  Avere  soon 
placed  in  their  respective  Missions,  —  the  Sisters  of  Afercy 
takiiii";  up  their  al)ode  at  my  residence,  which  I  had  iriven  np 
to  {hvuij)ro  tcinpnrr,  nntil  I  should  have  jjrepared  for  thcni  a 
more  suitable  and  coinfortal)Ie  ilwelliiiir." 

These  pioneers  of  the  !Merey  Order  in  the  New  World  ar- 
rived in  St.  John's  on  the  feast  of  the  Sacred  Heart,  the  10th 
day  of  June,  1.S42,  about  six  months  after  the  death  of  the 
saintly  foundress,  jNIolher  McAuley.'  This  was  the  first 
house  of  the  Order  founded  in  America,  and  there  is  a,  tra- 
dition of  the  Order  that  Mother  McAuley  luM'self  had  intended 
to  come  to  Newfoundland  to  found  the  house  here  had  not 
death  taken  her  away.  The  younj;  lady  alluded  to  by  Dr. 
Fleming;  in  the  extract  w'as^Miss  Creedon,  who  was  ap])()inled 
first  Ivcv.  ^Mother  of  the  new  establishment,  and  to  her  in  a 
ffrcat  measure  is  due  the  existence  of  the  Order  in  Newfound- 
laud  t()-(hiy. 

The  arrival  of  the  first  Sisters  in  St.  John's  is  thus  described 
by  Dr.  Fleming  :  — 

"The  signal  of  the  approach  of  the  'Sir  "Walter  Scott'  on 
the  morning  of  the  10th  inst.  produced  among  our  popula- 
tion tlie  most  gratifying  excitement,  and  as  the  wind  was  ofl- 


•Tho  Order  of  tlic  Sisters  of  ^Fcrcy  was  founded  by  Catlicrinc  MeAulev,  in  Dnb- 
lin,  ill  1827.  Tliia  siiinlly  wonmii  was  horn  on  the  fonst  of  St.  Miclmi'l  (.Sept.  2!)), 
1787,  at  Storniantdwn  House,  f'onnty  Dublin.  Slie  was  endowed  wilh  a  most  allVc- 
tionate  and  eliarilable  di-;])osili()n.  She  felt  a  peculiar  desiie  to  (onsole  sorrow  and 
Bftli<'tion  wherever  she  eueouutered  it.  She  lost  her  parents  when  vounL',  aid  on 
coming  into  possession  of  her  property  she  at  once  set  about  the  oreetion  of  her 
institute,  whieh  was  destined  to  t  ccnpy  sueh  an  ini))ortant  place  in  the  (hnreh.  She 
purchased  a  piece  of  ground  in  IJaggott  Street,  Dublin,  aiul  on  the  feast  of  Our 
Lady  of  !MiM('y  (2llli  Sei)t.),  1S27,  the  new  building  was  solemnly  l)losscd  by  Dr. 
l?lake  (her  sincere  I'fiend  and  sphiiual  direetiu',  afterwards  l>i>hop  of  Dnnnorc),  ^^hen 
she  at  once  opened  her  schools  for  poor  <'hildren,  and  ol)tained  perniis>i()u  to  vi-^it  the 
sick  in  the  hospitals.  In  .luno,  IS.'iO,  the  new  institute  was  eoufiruiccl  by  itescript  of 
Pope  I'ius  \'Iir.  The  Order  soon  began  to  spread.  Applications  eanio  from  all  parts 
for  the  establishment  of  colonics  of  the  Sisters.  .She  died,  iu  the  odor  of  sanctity,  oil 
the  11th  November,  1811. 


I'  '' 


87S 


ECCLESIASTICAL   IILSTOIIY 


shore,  and  sho  could  not  msiko  tho  harbour  early  in  the  day, 
towards  the  afternoon  I  took  a  j^ilot-hoat  and  proctHuled  to 
8ea  to  jrreet  our  pious  fri(!nds  upon  theirarrival,  and,  it'  neecs- 
pary,  to  In-inj;  th(Mn  ashore,  lest  they  should  he  eompelled  to 
add  another  nii^ht  to  their  weary  voyage. 

"T  reaehed  the  vessel  ahout  tour  miles  from  the  shore,  and 
was  happy  to  tind  all  on  hoard  in  exccdlent  health.  I  was, 
indeed,  almost  surprised  to  see  our  revertMid  Sisters  so  very 
well  after  a  transallantie  voyage  of  thirty  days,  unused  as 
they  were  to  the  soa,  and  that  their  spirits  were  not  in  the 
8li<;htest  degree  subdued. 

"The  captain,  Mr.  Byars,  whoso  kindness  and  attention 
throughout  were  subjects  of  nnich  ))raise,  now  informed  us 
that  he  could  not  expect  to  enter  the  harbour  that  evening,  in 
conseciuenec  of  which  we  made  immediate  i)rep!»rations  to  get 
tluf  nims  and  six  clergymen  ashore.  For  this  jjurpose  we 
used  the  boat  which  I  had  brought,  together  with  that  bo- 
longing  to  the  pilot  on  board,  and  which  had  remained  with 
the  vessel,  and  in  a  short  time  got  all  on  board  the  boats, 
althoujih,  from  the  jrreat  hei<;ht  of  the  vessel  and  the  heaMin<; 
of  the  sea,  it  was  attended  with  some  difficulty  to  get  the 
hidies  safiily  and  comfortably  placed  there."  He  then  gives 
a  graphic  description  of  the  "Narrows,"  the  town,  the  fish- 
flakes  and  stages,  and  speaks  of  the  surprise  and  interest 
taken  in  all  these  things  by  the  Sisters.  "On  ai)})roaching 
the  wharf  of  the  Hon.  James  Tobin,  we  found  it  and  those 
adjoining  thronged  with  multitudes  who  were  eager  to  extend 
a  welcome  to  those  who  had  made  so  many  and  such  great 
sacrifices  for  the  promotion  of  the  spiritual  interests  of  the 
people  of  Newfoundland,  and,  as  they  nearcd  the  landing- 
place,  cheers,  loud  and  long,  testified  the  delight  of  the  ex- 
pectant nudtitudes. 

"On  landing,  the  ladies  were  conducted  by  the  Hon.  Mrs. 
Tobin  to  her  residqnce,  where  they  remained  until  niy  car- 
riage arrived  to  remove  them,  upon  which  they  repaired  to 
the  Presentation  convent,  where,  having  left  the  two  postu- 
hints,  they  proceeded  to  the  church  to  offer  thanksgiving. 


■i'    .  U 


OP  NEWFOUNDLAND. 


373 


ung 


!  ex- 


'ing, 


and  to  invoko  a  l>lossin<j;  on  llicir  MlsHion,  prior  to  ojitoring 
ni}'  lioiise,  Mhiili  luid  been  liastily  littod  up  for  tluim,  their  own 
convt-nt  not  luMiig  yet  fiiiiHluul,  notwithstanding  the  activity 
Avith  which  tho  work  progn^sscd. 

"Th(!y  aro  now  actively  (Migagcd  in  thoir  sacred  employ, 
daily  visiting  tho  sick.  Indeed,  so  pressing  were  they  to  be 
permitted  to  enter  upon  their  labours  immediately  on  their 
arrival,  that  I  was  oltliged  to  consent  to  it  on  the  subsefjuent 
Monday.  .  .  .  And  such  has  been  the;  industry  of  their 
attendance,  and  the  efllcacy  of  their  instructions,  rendered 
still  more  efficacious  by  the  suavity  of  their  manners,  that 
they  are  looked  up  to  with  the  greatest  reverence  and 
alK^ction  by  all  classes  of  the  conununily.  In  the  meantime 
I  proceculed  actively  with  their  convent,  and  in  a  few  mor+hs, 
with  an  expenditure  of  more  tlian  two  thousand  pountls,  I 
Avas  enabled  to  conduct  them  into  a  commodious  and  coni- 
fortaI)le  edifice  atljoining  the  cathedral,  in  a  conunanding 
position,  presenting  from  the  town  and  harbour  an  extremely 
interesting  oltject.  They  are  now  joined  1)y  a  fourth  lady, 
of  high  literary  attainments,  who,  as  she  had  [jreviously  com-^ 
pleted  her  novitiate  in  another  house,  has  been  already 
professed. 

"  On  the  1st  of  ^lay  of  the  past  year  (1843)  they  opened 
their  school,  and  in  a  very  brief  space  of  time  they  had  a 
considerable  number  of  pupils,  whose  jjrogress  even  now, 
from  the  exceedingly  judicious  system,  gives  great  satisfac- 
tion ;  but  the  connuunity  is  now  so  small,  and  as  they  are 
eniraircd  in  teachiuij  between  the  hours  of  ten  and  three,  with- 
out  a  moment's  relaxation,  the  necessary  result  of  this  is,  that 
during  that  time  the  sick  nuist  be  entirely  neglected. 

"  Would  to  God  that  the  Spirit  of  the  Iloiy  Ghost  would 
inspire  some  three  or  four  daughters  of  the  Island  of  Saints, 
gifted  with  an  education  and  accomjdishments  suited  to  the 
fulfilment  of  the  varied  and  important  duties  of  such  an  insti- 
tion,  to  embark  upon  a  mission  that  promises  so  rich  a 
harvest !  IIow  happy  should  I  feel  at  receiving  upon  our 
shores  a  treasure  so  valuable  !     IIow  gratified  to  I)e  al)le  to 


Mi  • 


ECCLKSIASTICAL  IlISTORV 


I 


add  to  lliosc  pious  Sisters  a  siillicii'iil,  jiiiinltcr  to  render  llin 
|)(M'r(>niiaiic(r  ol'  tlie  hcIiodI  duties  facile,  and  at  tin)  same  liino 
to  save  tlu!  shk  jxtor  partitiularly  from  the  privation  of  \vhi(!li, 
since  May,  they  liavo  been  thus  to  a  great  extent  necessarily 
SMl»j<'eteil  I  '' 

The  convent  spoken  of  l>y  Dr.  Fleniini;  was  of  wood.  It 
has  been  replace*!  by  one  of  stone,  of  superior  styh^  and 
ttcconnnodation,  erected  by  Dr.  Mullock,  on  th(^  sanu^  site, 
in  1S')(;.  It  was  solcnndy  opened  on  the  feast  of  JSt. 
Michael,  1S.')7.  The  two  ladies  who  accompanied  Miss 
Creedon  to  found  i\w  convent  were  Miss  Lynch  (Sister 
Mary  IJose)  and  Miss  Froney  (Sister  M.  Ursula).  These 
latter  returned  to  Ireland,  in  Novcmiter,  IHl.'J,'  ji-avinuf  the 
.sole  charge  of  the  institution  on  the  shoulders  of  Sister  M 
Francis.  For  nine  months,  during  a  pei'iod  of  great  triu 
(lid  she  alone  maintain  the  existence  of  the  Order,  when, 
owing  to  some  untoward  (circumstances,  the  Bishop  was  all 
th»^  time  undecided  as  to  whether  IIkc  convent  should  be  i)re- 
eierved  or  suppressed.     The  indomitable  i)erseverance  of  Miss 

ek  aft(U'  week,  month 


iP 


i»y» 


after  month,  she  went  regularly  through  all  the  routine  of 
convent  discipline,  —  rang  herself  to  i)rayer,  to  meditation, 
to  refectory,  to  choir;  performed  by  herself  the  Office,  the 
spiritual  lecture,  the  visit;  attended  the  sick,  taught  tho 
school.  In  a  word,  continued  every  jjractice  just  as  if  there 
were  a  whole  connnunity  under  her  charge.  At  length  sho 
was  joined  by  ISFiss  Maria  Nugent,  who  took,  in  religion, 
the  name  of  Sister  M.  Jos(!ph.  This  was  a  lady  of  remark- 
able character  and  talents.  She  is  the  same  -who,  in  a  former 
chapter,  is  mentioned  as  having  been  the  first  postulant 
rec(!ivcd  in  Newfoundland.  She  was  received  for  the  Pres- 
entation Older,  but  finding  she  had  not  a  vocation  for  that 
institute,  she  retired  to  tho  house  of  her  brother,  John  V. 


1  Sister  M.  Rose  retii'cd  from  Mie  Order,  and  is  still  liviii<f  at  Toiiloiiso,  in  Fninrc. 
Sister  Ursula  went  to  Australia  and  Ibundod  a  branch  of  tho  Order  there.  She  died, 
fidl  of  merits  and  good  works,  this  present  year,  1880. 


OF  NKVVFOUNDLAND. 


376 


ho 


M'O 
1»0 


kUT 

fint 
[os- 
Ihiit 


Lliuil, 


Nuf^cut,  Ksfj.,  wlicro  sho  lived  fluj  lifi?  of  a  ivcliiso,  novcr 
nppcMriii^jf  in  jml)Iic  except  lit  eliiirch,  mid  lun'or  oiistiiii;  aside 
tlu!  reliirioiis  lial>il.  She  was  a  lady  of  reliiied  taste  and 
cultivalioii,  a  classical  scliol.-ir,  and  inistres.s  of  tlu^  modern 
lanjiuaires.  SIk^  ()ccu|)ied  her  tinii!  in  the  education  of  her 
brother's  children.  As  .soon  as  {\h\  Sisters  of  Mercy  came 
who  felt  revive  within  her  the  stronij  religious  vocation, 
which  only  wanted  tiie  proper  channid  to  develop  itself. 
She  was  joyfidly  nu'cived  hy  Sister  Francis,  who  was  a  sister 
of  Mis.  Niiiifent.  She  fiiliilled  with  exemplary  zeal  all  the 
duties  of  a  true  Sister  of  Mei'cy  for  the  period  of  four  years, 
when  who  fell  a  victim  to  her  holy  ealliuij;.  'i'he  year  1.S48  is 
ever  nu-morahle  in  the  history  not  oidy  of  Ireland,  hut  also 
in  N(^wfoundlaiid  and  Canada,  as  "  the  year  of  the  famine." 
Thousands  of  poor,  starvinjj^  innnii^rants,  striving  to  escape 
the  di'cadful  death  from  hunger  at  home,  endciivored  to 
crowd  themselves  aboard  the  ships  l)ound  to  America.  Tiien 
ensued  all  the  miseries  of  Sfjualor,  disease,  and  iV'vcr,  ending 
in  wretched  death  and  j)r()miscu(,  is  burial  on  the  tirst  point 
of  land  reached  for  those  who  had  not  already  been  thrown 
by  hundreds  into  the  ocean.  This  terrible  "  famine  fever" 
found  its  way  to  St.  John's,  and  the  victims  were  placed  in 
the  hospital,  and  were  attended  by  the  Sisters  of  Mercy. 

Among  those  iinforluutites  was  one  who  turned  a  deaf  ear 
and  hardened  heart  to  the  exhortations  of  the  j)riest.  Sister 
Joseph  undertook  the  task  of  reconciling  him  to  God.  Al!  day 
long  she  watched,  and  prayed,  and  exhorted,  and  instructed 
by  his  bedside,  till  (rod  heard  luM'  i)rayer,  and  the  poor 
wretch  opened  his  heart  to  the  inpouring  of  divine  grace. 
The  priest  was  at  hand,  the  jxjor  soul  was  shriven,  the  body 
anointed,  and  death  soon  came. 

Sister  Joseph  retui'ned  to  her  convent,  Iiei-  heart  full  of 
thanksgiving;  but,  alas  I  the  germs  of  the  fatal  malady  had 
taken  deep  hold  of  her.  A  few  days  and  she  too  was  laid 
in  the  grave  of  the  fever-stricken,  —  a  martyr  to  the  spirit  of 
her  sacred  vocation. 

Inunediately  after  Sister  Joseph's  death  Mrs.  Creedon  was 


37G 


ECCLESIASTICAL   HISTORY 


I'i 

n 


li ) 


joined  by  IMiss  Agnes,  eldest  daughter  of  John  V.  Nugent, 
Esq.,  and  niece  of  both  hidies,  so  ■well  known  afterwards  as 
Mother  ^lary  Vincent.  Mother  Vincent,  besides  inheriting 
the  bright  gifts  of  a  learned  race,  had  had  also  the  advantage 
of  a  training  of  the  tirst  order,  and  a  classical  education, 
with  all  its  accompanying  relinenients,  under  her  aunt.  Sho 
at  an  early  age  manifested  a  strong  and  fixed  desire  to  enter 
religion.  Sue  was  received  into  the  Order  by  Dr.  Fleming. 
This  was  the  last  act  of  the  kind  performed  by  that  venerable 
Prelate,  and  he  rose  from  a  sick-bed  to  pay  this  honor  to  a 
family  for  whom  he  had  so  great  a  respect.  Her  })rofession, 
on  the  8th  December,  1850,  was  niade  in  presence  of  Dr. 
Mullock,  so  that  her  career  forms,  as  it  were,  a  connecting 
liidv  between  the  two  episco})ates. 

In  1850  the  oriihanage  in  connection  with  the  convent  was 
erected  l)y  Dr.  Mullock,  the  funds  for  the  purpose  having 
been  left  by  Dr.  Fleming.  Mother  Vincent  was  ajjpointed 
Superior,  and  removed  with  the  oi'phans  to  the  old  Moiujstery 
of  Belvidere  in  18.')9,  Avhen  a  young  ladies'  boarding-school, 
under  the  title  of  "  St.  Clare's,"  was  opened  in  the  orphanage 
building. 

From  this  time  forward  the  Order  flourished  vigorously  in 
the  Island,  and  constant  new  instalments  of  novices  and 
[)ostuhuits  arrived  from  Ireland  to  till  its  ranks.  On  the 
occasion  of  the  profession  of  Mother  ^'incent,  the  white  veil 
was  taken  by  Miss  Theresa  Bernard,  a  joung  lady  just  then 
arrived  from  Limerick,  and  who  has  lived  among  us  for  the 
past  half  a  century  as  ^lothcr  Xavier.  Both  have  now  gone 
to  receive  the  reward  of  long  lives  of  labor  and  love. 

In  the  year  1850  the  cholera  broke  out  in  St.  John'.s,  and 
raged  with  great  violence.  Then  were  seen  the  Sisters  of 
Mercy  in  their  true  element.  From  daylight  till  dark,  and 
often  through  the  night,  they  worked  indefatigably.  No  part 
of  the  city  slums  was  too  dark  or  too  filthy  for  them.  They 
entered  the  houses  of  the  plague-stricken  when  all  others 
had  abandoned  them,  lighting  the  fires  and  preparing  some 
humble  food  ;  scruljbing  and  cleaning  up  the  little  tenements  ; 


II' ( 


OF  NEWFOUNDLAND. 


377 


dressing  and  washinfr  the  sick;  and,  finally,  carrying  the 
dead  bodies  to  the  coffins,  wliicli  were  placed  at  the  doors  on 
the  streets  by  fearful  ofljcials.  But  it  is  unnecessary,  as  it 
would  be  impossible,  to  recount  all  that  was  done  ])y  them  in 
those  dreary  days.  It  is  enough  to  say  they  were  true  to  the 
spirit  of  their  holy  Order. 

In  the  course  of  time  the  Order  spread  throughout 
various  parts  of  the  Island,  so  that  there  are  now  seven 
connnunities  and  over  fifty  Sisters  in  the  coiuitry.  Of  lato 
years  a  great  impel  us  has  been  given  to  the  Order  in  both 
the  charita))lc  and  the  teaching  branches.  A  magnificent  new 
orphanage,  in  brick  and  stone,  has  been  erected  at  a  cost  of 
about  $20,000  at  Uelvidere,  furnished  with  all  the  latest  im- 
provements and  modern  appliances,  for  the  acconnnodation 
of  from  eighty  to  one  hundred  ori)hans.  At  the  Mother 
House,  the  school  of  the  Guardian  Angels,  for  infant  boys 
and  girls,  has  been  opened,  to  be  conducted  on  the  kinder- 
garten system  ;  and  a  new  young  ladies'  academy,  opened  at 
the  beautiful  grounds  of  St.  Bride's,  VVaterford  Bridge, 
which,  though  yet  only  in  its  infancy,  has  given  already  great 
promise  of  future  success. 


T 


378 


ECCLESIASTICAL  HISTORY 


I 


CHAPTER   XXVI. 


V  :.! 


POLITICS—  [1832-1838.] 

(iencral  TJoviow  —  State  Politics  —  Petition  for  Home  Rule  —  Local  Lc;:fi.ilatni'C 
(irantuil  (18.'i'2)  —  First  Elections  — Jinl^'c  IJoiilton  —  All'air  of  Drs.  Carson  ami 
Keilly  —  Patrick  Morris,  Esq.,  Attacks  tlie  Jiult^e  in  tlic  Assembly — Messrs. 
Nnfrent,  Kent,  an<l  Carson  Appointed  a  Delejration  to  L:)nilon  on  tlie  Itonlton  Case 
—  Dr.  Fleiuiiiff's  \'ic\vs  on  the  .S\il)jeet  —  His  (ireat  In'lnencc  at  Home,  and  in 
Local  Politics  —  Jnd^c  Bonlton  Coiulcnmcd  and  Ueniovud. 


IT'ltEQUENT  allusion  has  been  madt;  in  these  pages  to  the 
political  stale  of  the  Isliind  diirinir  Dr.  Eleniing's  time; 
and,  though  this  work  claims  to  he  hut  a  history  of  the 
ecclesiastical  affairs  of  the  country,  yet,  so  intimately  are 
they  connected  with  its  political  life,  that  a  hiography  of  Dr. 
Fleming  would  be  lncoini)lete  without  :i  more  particular  men- 
tion of  them. 

The  period  at  which  Dr.  Fleming  obtained  tlu;  reins  of 
spiritual  jurisdiction  in  Xewfoiuidland  w;is  one  of  great 
political  activity  in  Irehmd,  tind,  in  fact,  throughout  the 
world.  Till!  spirit  of  autonomy  a-id  independence  awakened 
by  the  Freiu'h  Kevohition  had  sjjread  like  a  tire  among  all 
peo})les.  The  old-time  sentiment  of  feudalism  and  conserva- 
tivisni  was  .shaken  from  its  throne,  and  tlu^  i)eople,  under 
the  high-sounding  title  of  the  Dcitiocrtici/^  began  to  claim  a 
voice  and  a  ri<;ht  in  the  manaircnient  of  the  allairs  of  their 
nation  which  they  had  never  befoi-e  thought  of. 

It  is  not  my  intention  here  to  pass  any  judgment  on  this 
modern  innovation;  possibly  it  may  ha\e  its  advantages  as 
well  as  its  drawbacks.  One  of  its  effects  undoubtedly  was 
the  relaxation  of  religious,  or  rather  denominational,  con- 
servatism, which  also  is  a  doubtful  advantage,  but  whicii,  jit 
all  events  in  England,  paved  tlu;  May  toward  the  concession 
of    religious   liberty    to    Ihitish    subjects  belonging   to    the 


OF  NEWFOUNDLAND. 


370 


hitherto  "abominable  "  Church  of  Rome.  The  iinmediiite 
fruit  of  this  sentiment  of  toleration,  dexterously  and  deter- 
minedly nianii)ulated  by  O'Connell,  was  the  undeniai)le  boon 
of  Catholic  Emancipation.  This  boon  once  giiined,  tbo 
Irish  people,  having  thus  secured,  at  least  in  somo  measure, 
though  not  completely,  their  rights  as  Christians,  inmiediately 
set  about  considering  how  they  should  secure  their  rights  as 
citizens,  —  those  civil  privileges  and  recognitions  which  had 
been  so  long  denied  them.  Then  arose  in  the  national  breast 
those  aspirations  which  in  our  own  day  have  culminated  in 
the  Home  Rule  movement,  now  at  last  on  the  eve  of  being 
crowned  Avith  success. 

It  is  but  natural  that  all  these  agitations  and  movements 
of  political  life  in  the  mother-country  should  immediately 
react  upon  the  colonies,  and  that  the  same  scenes  should  be 
there  rei)eated  on  a  smaller  scale.  Particularly  was  this  the 
case  in  Newfoundland.  Firstly,  because  she  is  the  nearest 
transatlantic  colony  to  the  mother-coimtr}' ;  and,  secondly, 
because  the  majority  of  her  population  were  composed  of 
inmiiiirants  fresh  from  the  scenes  of  iwlitical  and  reliirious 
strife  "at  home;"  and  the  tales  of  Vinegar  Hill  and  The 
Bridge  of  Ross  were  rehearsed  of  winter  nights  by  actual 
l)articii)ants  in  these  encoiuiters.  It  is  no  wonder,  then,  that 
the  spirit  was  kept  alive.  During  the  years  1831  and  1832 
petitions  were  sent  Home  from  the  peo[)Ie  demanding  a  local 
Leg?slatur(>.  'I'lie  ])rayer  of  the  jjctitions  was  granted 
at  length,  and  in  1S.")2  the  first  elections  took  place.  As 
might  be  expected  in  a  country  hitherto  unaccustomed  to 
the  exercise  of  the  ijolitical  franchise,  considerable  excite- 
ment and  denominational  discord  was  created.  Hitherto  all 
th(^  public  odiccs  in  the  country  had  been  liUed  to  llie 
exclusion  of  the  Roman  Catholics.  These  latter,  having  the 
majority  among  the  votirg  population,  elected  memliers  of 
their  own  Clmrcli ;  and  deeming  that  tiie  time  had  at  length 
arrived  when  tliey  should  ol)taiu  justice,  probably  became 
somewhat  arrogant,  and  allowed  their  feelings  of  injured 
riu'ht  to  verire  very  closely  on  the  borders  of  vengiumce,  if 


I 


380 


ECCLESIASTICAL  HISTORY 


1:  ! 


I 


not  to  outstop  them.  The  dominant  party,  on  the  other 
hand,  seeing  their  h)ng-possessed  power  and  inihienec  about 
to  he  wrenehed  from  their  grasp,  no  doubt  made  desperate 
efforts  to  retain  tlieir  hold.  Hence  we  can  easily  see  that 
feeling  must  have  run  high  on  both  sides. 

In  Xovember,  1833,  the  year  of  the  iirst  local  jiarliament, 
Judge  IJoulton  arrived  in  Newfoundland.  lie  had  been 
removed  from  the  position  of  Attorney-General  of  C^uiada 
owing  to  some  political  trouble.  He  was  a  man  of  great 
legal  knowledge,  but  of  most  domineering  and  passionate 
character.  No  sooner  had  he  arrived  in  the  country  than 
he  began  to  make  sweeping  innovations  in  the  laws  and 
established  customs,  especially  those  regarding  the  empan- 
elling  of  juries  and  the  relations  between  the  merchant  and 
the  tisherman.  The  other  two  judges  of  the  ISupreme  Court, 
Messrs.  Des  Barres  and  Brenton,  awed  by  his  superior 
forensic  acumen,  became  pliant  tools  in  his  hands,  and 
acquiesced  in  all  his  judgments.  The  ])e()ple,  however, 
soon  began  to  resent  these  encroachments  on  their  rights. 
He  altered  the  law  as  regards  the  emijanclling  of  juries  in 
such  a  manner  as  to  enable  the  merchants  to  select  special 
juries  entirely  of  their  own  class.  He  a1)rogated  the  law 
which  gave  the  tisherman  a  Hrst  lien  for  wages  on  the  voyage 
and  i)reference  in  payment  for  current  supi)lies.  lUit  these 
were  not  the  worst  of  his  faults.  A  suit  was  instituted  by 
Dr.  Carson  against  Dr.  Keilly  for  defamation  of  chara-cter 
in  the  matter  of  the  case  of  a  certain  Mrs.  Antle.  Dr. 
Keilly  was  ])hysician  to  the  judge's  family,  and  the  judge 
showed  a  marked  prejudice  against  Dr.  Carson.  He  went 
so  far  as  to  say  from  the  bench  that  if  the  case  had  resulted 
in  the  death  of  the  woman  he  would  have  Dr.  Carson  indicted 
for  murder,  and  he  would  make  the  Grand  Jury  bring  in  a 
true/ bill;  and  he  wound  up  by  saying,  "I  Avould  c(u1ainly 
hang  you  !  Yes,  I  would  hang  you  ! "  So  far  did  he  at 
length  compromise  himself  in  these  matters  that  the  case 
was  brought  before  the  Im})erial  authorities,  and  in  1838 
Patrick  Morris,  Esq.,  made  a  most  powerful  attack  upon  the 


-ar 


"r-« 


OF  NEWFOUNDLAND. 


381 


jiuljrc  from  Ills  place  in  the  Assembly.  Ho  was  joined  hy 
Messrs.  Nugent  and  Kent,  and  so  serious  were  their  accusa- 
tions that  the  judge  took  out  an  action  for  lihel  against 
them.  The  words  of  Patrick  iNIorris  on  this  occasion  have  u 
ring  about  them  worthy  of  O'Connell,  his  great  prototype. 
The  following  extract  from  the  speech  of  this  great  chami)ion 
of  liberty  in  Newfoundland  deserve  to  be  enil)almed  in  the 
pages  of  a  history  such  as  this:  "The  Chief  Justice  has 
exhibited  on  various  occasions  great  jjartiality  on  the  bench. 
His  adjudications  have  been  biassed  by  strong  i)arty  preju- 
dices ;  his  judgments  have  been  unjust,  arbitrary,  and  illegal, 
opposed  to  the  milu  and  merciful  princii)les  of  British  law  ; 
opposed  to  public  liberty,  to  Ma(jna  Charkt,  which  pro- 
claims that  'freemen  shall  not  be  amerced  for  small  faults 
or  above  •  measure  for  great  transgressions.'  .  .  .  Judge 
Boulton  has  totally  subverted  the  ancient  laws  and  customs 
of  the  country  ;  has  set  aside  the  decisions  of  all  former 
courts  and  judges.  This  is  a  statement  I  have  frequently 
made  for  the  last  three  years,  ...  at  public  meetings  and 
in  published  letters,  when  I  could  not  claim  the  privileges 
of  a  member  of  this  House.  .  .  .  I  was  determined  to  abide 
the  consecjuences.  No  punishment  could  be  too  severe  for 
me  if  I  had,  without  foundation,  made  these  charijes.  The 
proof  of  their  truth,  I  think,  I  might  rest  altogether  on  the 
fact  of  their  never  having  been  denied.  The  judges  did 
not  deny  them,  the  bar  did  not  deny  them  ;  the  lawyers  who 
owc'l  Judge  Boulton  so  nuich  for  giving  them  a  monopoly 
did  not  stand  forth  in  his  defence.  No  man  has  been  found 
publicly,  either  through  the  courts  or  the  press,  to  defend 
him.  The  facts  are  notorious  and  undisputed.  .  .  .  He 
has  trampled  on  the  rights  and  privileges  and  innnuiiities  of 
the  British  subject." 

To  cap  the  climax  of  all  his  illegal  jn'oceedings  he  laid 
aside  the  ermine,  descended  fiom  the  bench,  and  ple!id(!d  his 
own  cause.  Finally,  an  address  to  the  Imperial  authorities 
was  drawn  iij)  by  the  House  of  Asseml)ly  ;  but  he,  in  his 
capacity  of  President  of  the  Council,  had   it   rejected.     A 


382 


ECCLESIASTICAL  IIISTt-icY 


dopulation  was  then  appointed,  consistinij  of  Messrs.  Carson, 
Nuirent,  and  Morris,  wlio  proceeded  to  London  and  suc- 
ceeded in  Iiaviiiir  the  matter  tried  before  the  Privy  Council 
and  ohtainiiiiT  the  removal  of  the  obnoxious  jud<;e.  The 
Privy  Council,  in  sentencin_!|  the  judiie,  though  endeavoring 
to  screen  him  from  the  more  serious  charges,  yet  recom- 
mended his  removal  for  having  indiscreetly  allowed  himself 
to  so  much  particifjate  in  the  strong  feelings  Avhich  appeared 
unfortunately  to  have  iniluenced  the  diil'erent  parties  in  the 
colony. 

It  was  but  natural  that  the  Catholic  r)ishop  and  clergy 
should  take  an  active  i.^tercst  in  this  matter.  They  were 
fully  convinced  that  the  judge  was  prejudiced  against  their 
flock,  and  that  they  couM  not  expect  Justice  from  him.  Dr. 
Fleming  being  in  London,  1838,  during  this  trial,  thus 
writes  to  Father  Troy  :  "On  the  second  day  of  my  arrival 
here  I  found  out  the  address  of  Dr.  Carson  and  ]Mr.  Xugent, 
and  iinding  them  so  comfortably  housed,  T  joined  them,  and 
now  here  we  are  a  trio.  I  did  this  to  show  that  with  them, 
and  with  the  [)eople  of  Xewfoundland,  I  wished  to  be  identi- 
fied, and  that  with  them  I  should  i)r()sper  or  perish."  lie 
then  states  that  from  the  tone  of  i)ersons  in  authority  at  the 
Colonial  Office  it  api)ears  i)retty  certaii;  that  "Mr.  Boulton  is 
disposed  of.  I  ex^x-ct  soon  to  hear  of  the  a|)i)ointment  of 
one  to  succeed  him  whose  conduct,  wisdom,  and  judgment 
will,  I  trust,  make  reparation  for  the  injuries  ami  hcart- 
1)urniugs  inllictecl  on  Xewfoundland  by  that  m:in. 
The  recc[)tion  of  the  delegates  at  the  Coloni:d  Ollii-ewas 
truly  Haltering.  I  am  very  confident  that  everything  will  be 
done  to  meet  the  wishes  of  the  peoi)le.  .  .  .  Tell  the 
peop1(!  to  be  of  good  heart.  Xewfoundland  will,  and  must, 
flouiish!"  He  then  states  that  Lord  Duriiam  had  been 
api!()intcd  to  settle  the  all'airs  of  Canada,  and  that  lu;  was 
informed  by  a  iientlcman  conversant  with  tliese  matters  that 
he  (^Lord  Durham)  was  also  authorizc(l  to  take  under  his 
caiv!  the  business  of  X^^ewfoundland.  'You  may  take  this  as 
a  fact,  that  Lord  Durham  is  and  will  be  uncontrolled.     His 


■ 


OF   NEWFOUNDLAND. 


383 


own  judi^mont  .  .  .  will  ho  his  soln  and  only  ixuido  ; 
.  and  ho  assurod  that  tlioro  is  no  nohlonian  within  I  lor 
Majosty's  dominions  nioro  oapal)lo  of  forniinjj:  a  corroot 
o.stiniatc  of  afl'airs  or  moro  willinj^  and  dotorniincd  to  sui)i)ort 
tho  lihorties  of  tho  pooplo.  .  .  .  Dr.  Carson  fools,  as  ho 
always  did,  intorostod  in  tho  happinoss  of  tho  country  and  in 
followin<;  up  the  ohjoot  of  his  mission.  Poor  Xuiront  is 
indofatiixahlo.  Nowfoiuidland  can  never  suflicicntly  repay 
hlni  for  his  services." 

I'horo  is  a  postscrijit  to  this  letter  marked  "  I'rivate."  It 
may  ho  published  now  with  impunity.  It  will  show  tho 
great  iPilluonco  possessed  by  Dr.  Fleming  over  tho  political 
destinies  of  the  country,  and  will  give  some  ground  for 
the  opjwsition  raised  against  him,  whii-h  culminated  in 
his  being  accused  before  the  Home  Otiicc,  as  wo  iiavo 
seen.  The  postscript  is  to  this  etfect :  "  It  would  bo  most 
important  that  th(^  members  of  tho  House  of  Assembly 
should  j)ere})ij)ion'/^  refuse  to  meet  until  tho  return  of  their 
delegates." 

The  great  political  intluence  acquired  by  Dr.  Fleming, 
and  enjoyed  over  since  in  the  colony  by  his  successors, 
though  it  Avas  thought  a  dangerous  imi)lement  by  many,  even 
among  his  own  ilock,  Avas  never  used  by  him  except  in  the 
true  interests  of  the  country  and  tho  pe()i)le  whom  he  loved 
so  well,  and  Avhose  temporal  welfare,  advancemont,  and 
comfort  ranked  in  his  mind  as  second  only  to  the  salvation 
of  their  souls. 


384 


ECCLESIASTICAL  HISTORY 


11 L 


CHAPTER   XXVII. 


11'^ 


"  AFTER  THE  FIRE."  —  [1847-1850.] 

After  "  The  Fire  "  —  Sufforin^H  of  llie  People  —  "  Tiic  Camps  "  —  Generosity  of  the 
People  ill  Siil)seril)iii^' to'tlie  Roliefol'lhe  Fiiiiiiiio-Stiicken  in  Ireland — Dr.  Flem- 
ing Applies  lor  a  ('oiidjiitor —  Father  J.  T.  Mullock,  t)..S.F.,  Appointed  —  Arrives 
in  Xewl'oiindland,  May,  IHi8 — Newfoundland  Kreeted  into  ii  Dioecsc,  to  bo 
Annexed  to  the  Province  of  Qiiehce  —  Dr.  Fleniin;r  Ol'jeets  to  this  Arran;jrctncnt, 
aNo  Dr.  Mullock  —  Arranijeineiit  Rescinded  hy  Rome  —  Project  of  a  Colonial 
Ecclc^iii>lieal  .Seminiiry —  It  is  Opposed  I»y  Dr.  Fleinin;;-  He  (Jives  his  Reasons  — 
His  Prejudice  aL'ainst  a  Colonial  Piie-.thood  —  Nolile  Views  of  Dr.  Mullock  on  this 
Subject  —  Estahlishnient  of  St.  Honavcnturc's  Colle;:e  —  Distinf^uished  Xewi'ound- 
laiid  Priests  Abroad  — Revs.  T.  Urown,  S.-I.,  Ryan,  S.J.,  Kavana;,^!!,  S.J.,  unci 
Bennett,  t^.S.S.H.  —  "  First  Native  Priest "  —  Father  Mca;:lier,  S.J.—  Rev.  Messrs. 
Creene,  Mulloy,  I  lou'an  —  Sister  M.  Haptist,  First  "  Native  Nun  "  —  Rev.  James 
Rrown,  First  Actual  Missionary  Horn  in  the  Country  —  Last  Days  of  Dr.  Fleminjj 
—  He  Celebrates  the  I'irst  Mass  in  the  Cathedral  —  His  Death  and  Funeral. 


IN  tlie  yonr  1817  St.  John's  l)og!in  to  rise  like  the  phopnix 
from  its  asho^.  The  lale  of  her  sutJerhiirs  had  been 
sounded  abroad  througli  the  world,  and  generous  reluif  had 
poured  In  from  all  sides  in  the  shape  of  money,  provisions, 
and  elothing.  Vessels  liiden  with  goods  eamc  from  England 
and  Anu>rica.  An  energetic  eotnniittee  was  appointed  and 
organized  under  Colonel  Ltiw,  acting  governor,  and  after- 
wards directed  by  that  most  excellent  of  all  our  governors. 
Sir  Ciasi^ard  Le  IMarchtuit,  whom  a  benign  Providence  had 
sent  at  this  crisis  to  mitigate  the  severity  of  the  great  blow 
inllicled  on  the  country.  Through  the  well-managed  agency 
of  this  committee  the  wants  of  all  were  supplied,  comi)hiints 
and  grievances  exiimined  and  adjudicated  upon,  and  a  j;ro 
rata  money  compensation  made  to  all  for  their  losses  by  the 
fire.  The  Benevolent  Irish  Society,  always  at  the  front  in 
cases  of  emergency,  handed  over  to  the  use  of  the  committee 
their  building,  the  Orphan  Asylum  ;  and  daily  were  seen 
crowds  awaiting  their  turn  at  its  doors  to  receive  their  dole, 
forming  queues,  after  the  manner  of  the  famished  inhabitants 


OF   NKWFOUNDLAND. 


385 


of  Paris  at  tho  time  of  tlie  Revoliilion.  Tents,  camps,  and 
sheds  were  improvised  to  shelter  th(!  pe()i)h',  all  the  vessels 
in  the  harbor  \}v\wjr  laid  under  eoiitrii)uti()n  ;  and  though 
many  .sullered  extremely  from  tho  severity  of  the  winter, 
yet  such  was  tho  good  njanagemcnt  and  zeal  of  tho  Kelief 
Committee  that  not  one  could  l)o  said  to  have  died  of  actual 
exposui'e,  though  no  doul)t  tho  har(lshi|)s  undergone  may 
have  hastened  the  deaths  of  many.  Several  camps  or  sheds 
had  been  erected  on  the  cathedral  ground,  where  many  fami- 
lies passed  tho  winter.  In  tho  ensuing  August  (1<S47)  there 
were  still  some  iiftecn  families,  comprising  some  forty  souls, 
as  yet  unhoused  ;  and  foreseeing  tho  prol)al>ility  of  being 
obligi'd  to  pass  another  such  winter,  they  memorialized  tho 
Relief  Connuiltee,  through  the  Kev.  John  Forristal,  imi»lor- 
ing  him  to  lay  before  them  (the  conuuittee)  their  api)rehen- 
sion  of  encountering  tho  rigors  of  another  winter,  exposed 
to  tho  same  unspeakable  miseries.  "No  one,"  they  say, 
"knows  better  than  your  reverence  tho  hardships,  tho  dis- 
eases, and  the  deaths  entailed  on  tho  unhap})y  inmates  by 
such  utter  exposure  to  the  severities  of  this  inclement 
climate."'  They  were  all  well  housed  before  the  following 
winter ;  the  sheds  were  converted  into  snug  and  comfortable 
cottages,  and  though  they  still  retained  the  name  of  "The 
camps,"  they  did  duty  for  the  housing  of  the  poor  for  many 
years,  until  tho  erection  of  the  Poor  Asyhun  in  181)4. 

An  example  of  the  buoyancy  of  trade  in  Newfoundland, 
and  also  of  the  wondrous  generosity  of  the  peo[)lo,  is  found 
in  tho  fact  that,  in  this  very  year  of  1847,  as  they  were  yet 
only  recovering  from  tho  etl'ects  of  the  great  fire,  they  \»cro 
abl(^  to  send  a  most  munilicent  donation  to  tho  poor  people 
of  Ireland,  then  suflering  from  tho  eifec^s  of  bad  harvests. 
The  following  letters  are  found  in  the  archives  of  tho  Secre- 
tary's oilico  :  — 


111 


"  Secretary's  Office,  22  June,  1847. 
"  Sm,  —  By  direction  of  the  Governor  I  transmit  to  you, 
for  the  information  of  tho  subscribers  to  the   fund  for  the 


38  fi 


ECCLESIASTICAL  IIISTOHY 


I  I 


relief  of  the  disli.'ss  prcviiiliiii;  iti  Ircliiiul,  llio  }i('(.'oini)iUiyin,i; 
copy  of  II  (IcspMlcli  wliicli  II. IC.   llio  (Jovenior  li;is  received 
from  the  Right  Ilon'hlo  the  Sec't'y  of  State  for  the  Coh)nie.s. 
"  I  liave  the  honor  to  be,  Sir, 

"  Your  ohed't  serv't, 

••(Signed)  CIIRISTOIMIKU   AVKE, 

"j»'o  ISecCy. 

"To  U.   G.  (jiAitKivrr,  Esq.,  lligk  Sheriff." 

"  Downing  Stueet,  2011»  :\r!iy,  '17. 
"  Sir,  —  I  have  to  acknowledge  the  recpt  of  Colonel  Law's 
despatches,  lunnhered  and  dated.  No.  b'iS  of  the  1st  and 
No.  r)(S  of  the  27th  March,  transmitting  two  Bills  for  the 
respective  sums  of  X,')()()  and  t'-'J-OO  stg.  (I)eing  aiTit  collected 
at  a  ))ul)lic  meeting  in  St.  John's  for  the  relief  of  the  distress 
prevailing  in  Indand),  and  acconipanietl  hy  a  letter  addressed 
to  me  hy  the  Sherill'. 


"  (Signed) 
To  Snt  fl.  ^.v.  Makciiam,  Govr.  .jc." 


GREY 


I)r.  FUnning,  seeing  at  length  the  nohle  edifice,  the  object 
of  his  constant  cares  ai.d  labors  for  the  ))asl  ten  years,  now 
nearing  completion,  and  feeling  his  own  energies  fast  suc- 
cumbing to  his  many  toils  and  labors,  at  length  besought  the 
authorities  in  Rome  to  giant  him  a  coadjutor.  Jlis  prayer 
was  acceded  to,  and  towards  the  close  of  the  year  1847 
Father  John  Thomas  Mullock,  of  the  same  Serajihie  Order 
of  St.  Francis,  was  apjiointed,  with  the  title  of  Rishop  of 
Thyatira  hi  jxir/i/jiifi,  and  with  the  right  of  succession.  And 
never  did  the  mantle  of  a  noble  IJishop  fall  on  the  shoulders 
of  a  worthier  successor.  He  was  consecrated  in  Rome  on 
the  27th  December,  1847,  by  His  Eminence  Cardinal  Fran- 
zoni,  and  arrived  in  St.  John's  in  May,  1848. 

At  the  same  time  that  this  appointment  was  made  the 
Vicariate  Apostolic  ol' Newfoundland  was  canonically  erected 
into  an   episcopate,  Dr.  Fleming  being  thus  translated  from 


•W 


msm 


OF   NEWFOUNDLAND. 


38/ 


Iho  noniiiml  Sco  of  Ciirpasiji  in  partilms  i)i/ideh'ii»i  to  tlio 
artuiil  S('(^  of  Ne\vf()Uii(lliUi(l.  Tlio  Cliurcli  of  Ninvfound- 
liiiid  was  now  foiisiilcrcd  tliorouglily  well  cstahli.sluHl  and 
in  a  iloiirisliinj;  condition,  endowed  with  a  cathedral,  various 
chnrciics,  convents,  etc.,  so  that  the  authorities  in  lionio 
Judired  it  seasonable  to  thus  (jstahlish  its  hierarchy  on  a  i)er- 
nianent  basis. 

The  llidl  of  the  Pope  niakin<if  this  canonical  erection  of 
the  diocese  of  Newfoundland  was  forwarder!  to  the  Arch- 
bishop of  (Quebec,  Monsei;.^neur  Joseph  Si<;nay,  and  throu<;h 
IlistJrace  was  coininunicated  to  Dr.  Fleming;.  The  riiason 
of  this  was  that  another  chancre  was  contemplated,  namely, 
the  i)laein<x  of  the  new  diocese  as  a  Sullragan  See  under  tho 
archiepisc()i)al  provinc(!  of  (Quebec.  To  this  arranj^ement, 
however.  Dr.  FIennn;i:  stremiously  objected,  and  he  ;j;ives  his 
reasons  in  full  in  a  letter  addressed  to  the  Archbishoi)  on  tho 
18th  November,  1847  :  — 


"I  would  not,"  he  says,  "be  dischar<!^ing  my  duty  to  your 
Grace,  to  myself,  and  successors,  or  to  the  Church  of  which 
I  am  the  humblest  Prelate,  were  I  to  neglect  expressing  my 
opinion  of  an  act  the  consequences  of  which  can  hardly  fail 
to  prove  injurious  to  the  best  interests  of  religion. 
One  of  the  i)rincipal  ol)jects  proposed  to  be  attained  is  tho 
facility  of  access  of  the  Sutl'ragan  to  tho  JNIetroiJolitan,  and 
the  meeting  in  Diocesan  Syuod  periodically.  lUit  Newfound- 
land is  distant  from  Quebec  no  fewer  than  twenty  degrees 
(about  1,200  miles).  There  is  between  that  country  and 
this  no  commercial  intercourse.  The  navigation  of  the  Gulf 
of  St.  Jiawrence,  from  its  entrance  at  Cajjo  Kay  and  the 
Magdalen  Islands,  and  between  the  wilds  of  ^Vnticosti  and 
the  dreary  shores  of  Cape  (Jaspe,to  the  mouth  of  the  river, 
is  regarded  by  our  most  experienced  mariners  as  pregnant 
with  perils  while  the  wrecks  of  hundreds  of  Caniulian  traders 
that  .strew  the  southern  coasts  of  our  Island,  and  the  thou- 
sands of  bones  tlnst  bleach  upon  its  shores,  testify  to 
the  dangers  that  must  be  surmounted  before  that  gulf  or 


388 


ECri,F,SIASTICAL  HISTORY 


*;r('!it  river  cMii  he  roiiclicd  ;  while,  if  the  ludre  devious  route 
of  IliililMx  l»e  ehoseii,  altlioutrh  llu^  diniijfiu'.s  he  searcel}' 
niitiijiitecl,   llie  dis(iiii('(^  is  ueiniy  (h)uhh'd. 

"^^'hell  lh(^  dischnrire  of  uu  iuipei'iitive  duty,  however,  is 
iu(|ues(ion,  he  woultl  Ik?  unworthy  tlie  niune  of  piiest  of  th(! 
livinu:  (iod  who  would  siilfcr  jiiniself  to  he?  sc:ii'e(l  hy  the 
terrors  of  truvel,  he  it  hy  laud  or  sea.  Hut,  thcui,  Newfound- 
land, for  six  mouths  of  the  year  fre(]iuMitly,  at  least  its 
eastern  shore,  is  hound  l)v  an  iuipassahh?  haiiier  of  i<'e  iVonj 
50  to  100  miles  wide,  which  would  render  it  iin|)()ssihl(!  to 
caleidate  on  leaving;  thi.U'or  the  west  ward  hefore  fluly,  .  .  . 
as  th(?  sununer  is  the  only  season  durin^j:  wiiirh  we  (an  have 
access  to  the  various  settlements  of  the.  coiuitry.  The  tem- 
porary withdrawal  of  tin;  IJishop  from  his  [x'ople  at  that 
season  of  the  year  would  he  attended  with  the  worst  eonsc- 
qnenees."  lie  hopes  that  when  His  Iloliiu'ss  is  made  ac- 
(luaiiited  with  the  ciremustances  he  will  revoke  the  decision. 
For  himself,  j)ersoually,  he  says  it  would  he  a  matter  of  in- 
dillerence,  for  "after  lahourinjj;  in  this  ])ortiou  of  the  <:reat 
vineyard  for  iicai-ly  thirty  years,  I  find  my  health  so 
weakeiK'd,  Jiud  my  constitution  so  broken,  that  it  is  iiupos- 
ttihio  I  could  (  ver  hope,  durinu'  the  remnant  of  my  earthly 
career,  to  avail  myself  of  the  happiness  of  nu'etinuj  your 
Grace,  althouuli,  from  the  facilities  atl'orded  of  conunuuieat- 
wiX  \\ith  iMU'ope,  it  is  only  recently  I  arrived  here  from 
Enirhind.  Indeed,  under  any  circumstances,  it  would  he  far 
less  iucouv(>uieut,  aud  attended  with  far  less  hazard  to  the 
Bishop  of  Xewfouudlaud  at  any  future  time,  were  his  diocese 
made  SullVauau  of  the  Midland  District  of  I'Jiirhind,  of  the 
dincese  of  Duhlin,  or  of  any  of  tlu^  dioceses  of  northern 
Frauc(>." 

No  doul)t  the  difficulties  arc  stated  in  a  very  exair.irorated 
maimer,  even  for  that  time,  and  whatover  portion  of  them 
did  I'eally  exist  has  l)een  jxreatly  diminished  since  tiieu 
hy  the  introduction  of  steanu'rs  and  railways,  aud  also  hy 
a  notable  cliauc:*'  in  our  climate.  Vet,  the  aruuments  of  the 
Bishop  prevailed,  and  in  his  opposition  to  this  arrangement 


OF   NEWFOUN'ni-ANI). 


389 


ho  WMH  stroiiirly  sccfiiidcd  l»y  liis  (•(cidjiitor,  Dr.  Mullock, 
so  (1im(  lilt'  iiiMltcr  Itciii^  reconsidered,  it  \v:is  rescinded.  Dr. 
Mullock  founded  liis  opposilion  on  the  ^ii'ounds  that  at  soin<' 
futun;  time  the  Cliuicli  of  New  roundlaiid  slioid<l  itselt'  he 
(Mvc'ted  into  a  Province,  and  a  clause  to  tliJit  eU'ect,  '/nam 
priiinnii,  was  ins(>rte(l  in  the  Iiiills  of  his  successors. 

In  tlie  al)ove-(nioted  letter  Dr.  Klemin'jf  thanks  the  Areli- 
l»ishoi)  of  (^iK'iiec  for  sendini;  a  priest  to  Lahi'ador,  and 
remarks  that  it  woidd  \w  far  more  couv(>nient  if  that  ])lace 
were  ntlached  (o  the  Archdiocese  of  (^uel)ee.  That  the  an- 
ne.xation  of  this  coast  to  St.  .lohn's  diocese  was  made,  not  hy 
the  I'ishops  of  Newfoundland,  hut  hy  reconimendatiou  of 
a  predecessor  of  I  lis  (Irace  in  (^iiehec. 

()n(!  otlier  matter  of  imporli'.nce  occupied  the  attention  of 
Dr.  I'Memiiiii"  before  his  death,  namely,  tlie  project  of 
forniiuir  an  eeelesiastii'al  semiuaiy  in  Xova  Scotia  for  the 
education  of  students  for  the  service  of  tin;  Mission  in  all  th(^ 
dioceses  of  Canada,  or  at  least  of  the  Mai'itinie  Provinces. 
'Phis  id(>;i  hiid  heen  conceived  hy  the  lit.  IJev.  Dr.  Walsh,  then 
lately  appointed  liisho^)  of  Halifax,  and  was  tirst  hroached  to 
l^r.  Flemiuij  hy  Lord  Stanley,  Secretary  for  the  Colonies. 
In  a  letter  to  the  Cardinal  Secretary  of  J'ropa<;anda,  Dr. 
Fleminir  expresses  his  disapproval  of  this  project.  lie  is 
surprised  that  the  first  knowledire  of  the  scheme  should  havo 
coined  to  him  from  such  a  source.  He  thinks  that  the 
colonial  l»ishoi)s  should  have  heen  consulted  in  a  matter  of 
such  a  nature  before  it  had  been  laid  before  the  (Jovern- 
nient.  He  objects  stronj;ly  to  that  portion  of  the  scheme  in 
which  the  Government  is  asked  to  subsidize  this  eollei;e,  on 
account  of  the  inlhience  and  patronair<'  it  would  actjuin*  over 
such  a  colleu(\  and  the  nomination  of  its  staff.  He  points  to 
the  exampl(>  of  Ireland,  where  the  Uishops  almost  unaiii- 
mousiy  oppos(>(l  the  establishment  by  GovcM-nment  even  of 
hiy  schools.  How  much  more  so  ou<rht  we  to  object  "to  the 
instructors  of  colonial  Catholic  ecclesiastics  being  selected  by 
a  lU'itish  Minister."  Again,  he  says  that  his  experience  of 
the  Mission  tauurht  him  that  the  missioners  best  suited  to  this 


^]  i' 


i 


tlK 


390 


ECCLESIASTICAL  HISTORY 


il 


country  arc  Ihoso  who  have  hilhorto  served  it,  namely, 
"young  men  drafted  fVoni  Irisli  eolleges."  He  thinks  that  to 
educate  youniT  men  Ixiloniriui;  to  the  colonies  would  ho 
fraught  with  consecjuences  dangerous  to  peace  and  concord  ; 
(hat  the  communities  are  very  small  generally,  and  the 
people  who  have  ac(juired  wealth  are  "men  of  very  limited 
education,''  consefjuently  inclined  to  be  arrogant;  that  their 
children  are  greatly  inclined  to  a  spirit  of  i)arty  and  a  ten- 
dency to  combination,  which  they  could  hardly  cscai)e  iinl)il)ing 
at  their  own  firesides.  Finally,  he  thinks  that  while  lliero 
are  so  many  colleges  in  Ireland,  France,  and  lionu*,  "wo 
ought  not  to  think  of  creating  an  institution  calculated  to 
foment  divisions  between  natives  and  colonists." 

Until  very  late  years  a  strong  impression  existed  in  (ho 
minds  of  the  inunigrants  from  tin;  Old  World  that  there  never 
could  be  what  they  called  a  "  natire  ])riest."  It  would  seem 
as  if  Dr.  Fleming,  too,  was  tainted  with  this  prejudice.  The 
wider  and  n()l)lcr  views,  however,  of  \\\>  colossal-minded 
.successor,  Dr.  Mullock,  soon  disi)elled  this  false  notion. 
One  of  his  first  works  was  the  erection  of  the  diocesan 
seminary  of  St.  IJonaventure's,  and  it  was  soon  seen  that  all 
that  was  wanted  was  a  channel  for  the  development  of  voca- 
tions to  the  ])riesthood  among  the  children  of  Newfoundland, 
and  that  transportation  across  the  Atlantic  had  not  dried  or 
frozen  up  the  fruitful  sources  of  that  grace  with  which  St. 
Patrick  had  endowed  his  faithful  pe()i)l(!  in  the  Old  Land  ;  on 
(he  contrary,  like  the  grafting  of  a  new  brani'h  \\\ww  the  old 
stock,  it  had  but  ser\>  '  U)  make  it  shoot  forth  with  renewed 
vigor  and  fecundity.  Dr.  Mullock  soon  saw  himself  sur- 
rounded by  a  noble  stall' of  "  native  i)riests,"*  who,  instead  of 
realizing  the  fears  of  Dr.  Fleming,  and  "fomenting  divisions," 
worked  hand  to  hand  and  shoidder  to  shoulder  with  the 
veteran  pioneers  from  Ireland  in  the  missionarv  iield. 

This  prejudice  against  a  colonial  ))riesthood,  amounting 
almost  to  a  superstition,  was  not  peculi.>"  to  Newfoiuidland, 
;hut,  it  seems,  was  a  general  irui)rc,ssio,\  oi'oi  jht  across  the 
ocean  from  the  Old  World  to  all  {)art6  tf  Aiiieiicu.    It  arose. 


OF  NEWFOUNDLAND. 


391 


.1, 
10 


prob:il>ly,  from  tho  fiict  of  there  l)oing  no  means  in  tlie  New 
World  of  ediu'iitinj;  voutli  for  so  lii<>;li  a  callini::.  But  in  the 
cour.se  of  a  few  year.s  thiti  absurd  notion  was  dissi[)ated  by 
the  march  of  events  and  the  growth  of  eeclesiastical  semi- 
naries in  the  infant  Church  of  America.  No  sooner  was  an 
opportunity  opened  up  than  it  was  immediately  availed  of. 
In  Newfoundland,  hardly  had  the  dioi-esan  seminary  of  St. 
Bonaventure's  been  thrown  open  to  the  rising  generation, 
than  vocations  for  the  sacred  nunistry  manifested  themselves 
more  numerously  than  the  needs  of  the  Church  recpiireu. 
Hence,  at  the  present  time,  many  of  ^he  children  of  New- 
foundland have  chosen  foreign  missions,  and,  joining  the 
Jesuits,  the  Kedemptorists,  or  some  other  of  the  religious 
Orders,  have  now  places  of  distinction  and  honor.  Among 
these  may  be  mentioned  the  Very  Kcv.  Thomas  lirown,  S.»I., 
lately  elected  to  the  high  and  responsible  position  of  Provin- 
cial of  the  Iiish  Province  of  the  Jesuits.  He  is  a  native  of 
the  Harbor  of  Carbineer.s'.  Also  the  Kev.  F.  Ryan,  S.J., 
and  Ivcv.  h,  Kavanagh,  S.«T.,  both  distinguished  members 
of  the  Order,  —  the  former  a  native  of  Baccalieu  ;  the  latter, 
of  St.  John's;  the  Very  Kev.  Father  Bennett,  C.S.S.R.,  a 
distinguished  preacher  of  tlu^  Pedcmptorist  Order,  and 
lately  nominated  to  tlii'  P)isliopri(.'  of  Dunkeld,  in  Scotland. 
During  the  twelve  years  of  Dr.  Mullock's  episcopate  in 
which  the  college  of  St.  l)onaventure  was  in  existence  it 
sent  forth  about  thirty  students  who  were  elevated  to  the 
ranks  of  the  priesthood.  P>ut  even  before  that  time  some 
of  the  sons  of  Terra  Nova  had  become  enrolled  in  the  sacred 
ministry.  The  (juestion  as  to  who  was  the  iirst  native 
})rlest  is  one  of  considerable  interest,  and  is  shrouded  in 
some  obscurity.  I  have  made  a  vei'y  close  investigation 
into  this  n\atter,  and  the  result  of  the  in(|uiry  will  not  be 
here  out  of  )»Iace.  It  has  been  stated  that  the  Ift.  Kev.  Dr. 
Kinsella,  tbnnerly  P)ishop  of  Kilkenny,  was  a  native  of 
Bonavista,  Newfoundland.  The  IJev.  Patrick  Meagher,  S.J., 
was  born  in  St.  John's,  somewhere  about  1780.  His  father, 
Thomas  Meairher,  came  out  about  that  time  from  his  native 


;{92 


ECCLESIASTICAL   IIISTOIIY 


Ijlli 


place,  CIonnK'l,  and  was  in  liuinl)le  circuinstiincos,  as  many 
others  who  had  l)een  phmdered  of  tlieir  ani'estnd  estates  at 
home.  lie  married  a  weallliy  \vi(h>w,  a  Mrs.  Crotty.  Two 
of  his  children,  Thomas  and  Patrick,  were  born  in  Newfound- 
land, lie  afterwards  returned  to  Waterford.  Thomas  was 
the  father  of  Thomas  Francis  ]\Ieai>her,  the  Youni!;  Irelander. 
Patrick  became  a  i)riest  and  joined  the  Jesuit  Order.  In  liat- 
tersl)y's  Irisli  l)ire<-tory  for  1830  a  descriiition  of  St.  Francis 
Xavier's  Cluuvli,  Upper  (Jardner  Street,  Dul)lin,  is  given, 
after  whicli  follows  a  list  of  the  priests  attached  to  it,  amoii<>' 
whom  apjH'ars  tlu;  name  of ''P.  Mehar,"  "  under  which  sjx'll- 
ing,"  says  the  "Irish  Monthly"  (Xov.,  18.S1),  "  is  disg-uised 
the  uncle  ,of  Thomas  Francis  ^leagher,  the  Vii-ylinuid  of 
the  Young  Ireland  of  "48."' 

A  3'oung  man  of  tlu^  name  of  (Jreene,  a  nativ»>  of  Carbi- 
neers', and  brother  of  the  late  Kandal  (Jreene,  Es(j.,  of  the 
Union  Pank,  was  sent  to  college  in  Ireland,  alK)ut  the  vear 
1830,  bv  Father  Yore.  II(>  was  ordained  deacon  bv  Dr. 
Fleming  in  Ireland,  but  for  some  reason  was  never  raised 
to  the  priesthood.  He  took  this  so  mui-h  to  heart  that  in 
the  course  of  a  year  \w.  died.  Thus,  no  doubt,  u'ivinij:  new 
strength  to  the  popular  b(>lief. 

Old  Father  Cleary,  of  IMacentia,  sent  to  college  to  (Quebec 
a  young  man  named  Mulloy,  a  native  of  Purin  ;  I)ut  he 
turned  u|)  in  Carbineers'  as  a  iiit'iltvul  doc/or,  and  })ractised 
then^  some  time.  A  l)rotlier  of  his  was  also  sent,  to  coUeu'e 
to  France.  He  was  in  Paris  at  the  time  of  the  thre(!  days' 
h)i('iit('  (183()),  and  was  oliliged,  with  the  other  students, 
to  lly.  He  came  home  to  Newfoundland.  Dr.  l-'leming 
refused  to  ordain  him,  on  the  ground  that,  having  carried 
arms  in  the  defence  of  lli(>  college,  he  had  incurred  an  irregu- 
larity. He  went  to  C*anada  or  the!  Unile(l  States,  wheic  he 
was  received  and  ordained  without  dillicully,  and  ollicialed  for 
many  years.  It  would  appear  that  Dr.  Fleming's  scruples 
on  this  [)oiiit  extended  also  to  the  other  sex,  as  he  refused 
to  receive  a  lady  (Miss  Tarahan)  into  the  Order  of  the 
Sisters  of  ]Mercy  on  account   solely    of  the   bar  sinidcr  on 


H 


OF   NEWFOUNDLAND. 


393 


her  cseutc'lioon  of  haviiiij^  tlio  iiusfortune  of  being  native  horn. 
She  ■was,  however,  iiftei'wurdji  received  and  professed  as 
Sister  M.  r)a[)tist,  being  the  tirst  "  native  "  nun,  and  became, 
notwithstanding,  an  excelUnit  rdlfjeuse.  She  died  in  1867 
ut  the  early  age  of  thirty-six. 

There  was  also  a  young  man  of  the  name  of  Ilogan 
ordaincul.  lie  was  a  native  of  St.  John's,  but  never  ollici- 
uted  in  the  Island  after  his  ordination. 

The  tirst  pricL^,  tlien,  wlio  actually  remained  and  officiated 
in  his  native  country  as  one  of  her  estal)lished  clergy  was 
the  Very  IJev.  James  Brown,  P.P.,  of  Harbor  ISIain. 
He  was  l)orn  in  Carbineers'  in  1S2.">,  and  is  a  brother  of  Very 
Rev.  Thomas  Prown,  Provincial  of  the  Iri-^h  Jesuits.  Ho 
studied  in  the  college  of  Waterford,  and  was  ordained  b;/ Dr. 
Mullock  about  the  year  1850.  For  the  past  thirty-six  or 
seven  }i'ars  he  has  worked  with  all  the  zeal  of  a  Xavier, 
having  charge  of  the  whole  north-eastern  portion  of  the 
coast,  from  the  southernmost  point  of  Green  or  Notre  Dame 
Pay  round  by  the  north  to  Kirpon  and  the  Straits  of 
Labrador,  extending  over  a  distance  of  a  thousand  miles  of 
coast.  Yearly,  without  fail,  he  made  the  visitation  of  this 
vast  district,  travelling  always  in  small,  open  l)()ats,  rarely 
seeing  a  fellow-[)riest  exci'[)t  on  his  annual  vi^it  to  St.  John's. 
He  has  lately  been  apjjointt-d  to  the  more  compact  and  less 
laborious  parish  of  Harbor  ^lain,  in  which  he  may  enjoy  a 
moderate  share  of  that  repose  so  vtcll  merited  by  well-nigh 
half  a  century  of  apostolic  lal)ors. 


At  length  llu!  career  of  the  saintly  Prelate  drew  near  its 
close.  He  retired  to  the  monastery  at  Pelviderc^  lor  the 
last  few  months  of  his  lilc.  He  had  erected  this  building 
with  the  design  of  introducing  a  convent  of  Franciscans, 
and  of  passing  tlu;  latter  years  of  his  life  in  the  strict  obsiu'v- 
ance  of  that  Seraphic  Ivule,  the  spirit  of  which  he  had  never 
lost,  even  during  tlie  thousand  distractions  of  his  busy  lit'c. 
P)ut  the  years  which  he  may  ha\  e  counted  on  wcr(>  reduced 
to   months.     .Vs  soon  as   the   stinudus  of  activit v  was  with- 


394      ECCLESIASTICAL   HISTORY   OF   NEWFOUNDLAND. 


drawn  the  physical  energies  began  rapidly  to  decline,  and 
it  Avas  soon  easily  observed  that  his  days  were  numbered. 
Like  another  Aloses,  however,  he  Avas  permitted  to  see  the 
Promised  Land  ;  nay,  more,  to  taste  of  its  first-fruits,  by 
being  sjjared  to  celebrate  the  first  Mass  in  the  new  cathedral. 
It  is  true  it  was  not  then  completed,  and  its  beauteous  pro- 
portions were  concealed  l)y  masses  of  debrln  and  unsightly 
scaffolding ;  yet  could  he  by  imagination  i)icture  to  himself 
the  grand  scene  to  be  presented  therein  some  five  years  after, 
when  adorned  with  its  nine  beautiful  altars,  its  rare  paint- 
ings and  costly  statuary  ;  when  aglow  with  brilliant  lights 
and  sweet  flowers,  and  its  massive  Avails  vibrating  to  the 
tones  of  the  majestic  organ,  its  sanctuaiy  adorned  by  a 
galaxy  of  distinguished  })relates  in  their  rich  robes,  it  was 
to  I)e  consecrated  bv  the  ureat  Prelate  of  tlie  American 
Church,  the  Most  Kev.  Dr.  Hughes,  Arclibishop  of  New 
York.  All  this  gorgeous  scene  no  doubt  passed  before  the 
mind's  eye  of  the  dying  Prelate  as  he  sat  tliei-e,  wetik  and 
exhausted,  at  the  rude  temijorary  altar,  lie  had  made  a 
last  great  effort  to  go  through  the  ceremony  of  that  day. 
He  arose  from  his  bed  of  sickness,  and  when  the  ceremony 
was  finished,  he  retired,  never  again  to  ajjpear  in  public. 
AVell,  indeed,  could  he  repeat  the  ever-I)eautiful  words  of 
the  Apostle,  "The  time  of  my  dissolution  is  at  hand.  I  have 
fought  a  good  fight.  I  have  kept  tiie  faith;"  and  Avith 
great  confidence  could  he  hope  for  tlie  imnerishal)le  crown 
Avhich  is  pre[)ared  for  the  good  and  faithful  servant. 

He  died  on  the  2Sth  of  ]May,  l.S,")0,  supported  by  all  the 
consolations  of  Holy  Church,  and  was  laid  to  rest  beneath 
the  confessional  of  the  new  cathedral.^ 


'  His  fuiici'iil  was  otic  of  the  frreatest  clcmonstrations  of  iiiiivoriial  rospcut  and 
Bynipalhy  ever  witnessed  in  Newl'oumllaud.  Ail  classes  joined  in  tlie  corteije.  The 
eoflln,  euvered  willi  a  imrplc  jiall,  was  lioi-iio  on  the  slinuldeisot'  siv  men  llirou^rh  the 
(Streets  of  ti:e  tnwii.  This  |)i-o('essi(in  forms  one  of  the  earlic-f  recollections  of  tlie 
present  wi  iter.  The  faitlil'iil  peoiile  vied  with  each  other  in  slriviiij;  to  be  ])erniilted 
to  carry  the  hier  for  a  short  <listance,  and  to  tlie  present  day  it  is  ouo  of  llicir  proudest 
boasts  that  they  had  "  a  spell  out  of  him." 


APPENDIX. 


K  i;  i;  A  r  a 


I'aHf  lilt.  si'Vcii  lines  I'roin  liottdiii,  for  '•  L'litli  Apvil  '"  rmd  ••;!Otli  Ajiril." 
I':i;4i'  ;l(!4,  tlirtH'  lilies  fVinii   lidtldiii.  fur   •'  Ivistcr  Siiniliiy  "  rciul    •'  Fciist  (if 
lllr   I'lpiplliinv." 

I'iii;c  H!I4.  trii  lines  fnnii  iKiitdiii.  for  •'  L'Slli  of  Miiv  "  re.iil  ••  1  llli  of  .liiiv." 


aamiiUjJUiiWMuw 


PI 

! 


H 


'.-T'"'TlJrlrtT"''~ 


i . 


APPEND  IX. 


NOTE     1.     {rarje  70.) 

Mosquito.  I  am  int'liiied  to  heliove  thiiL  the  oiii;iii:il  namo  of 
this  harbor  or  cove  was  MunJietto,  from  tin;  vmskct,  a  form  of  lire- 
arm  just  then  introduced,  as  tlie  neighboring  liarbor  was  calU;(l 
Carhhiaers'  Harbor  (now  corrupted  into  Ciirbotieur) ,  friiui  Curi- 
bineer,  that  branch  of  the  military  service  being  probal)ly  stationed 
or  employed  theie.  It  is  not  liicely  that  the  name  Mosquito  wonhl 
have  been  given  to  any  parlieuhir  settlement,  a;s  that  troublesome 
little  creature  was  equally  to  Ije  found  in  all  parts  of  the  country. 
Whitbourne  (IGl'J)  thus  s[)eaks  of  them  :  '"Neither  are  there  any 
snakes,  toads,  serpents,  or  any  other  venemons  wormes,  that  ener 
were  kuowne,  but  only  a  very  little  nimble  lly  (the  least  of  all 
other  llyes)  whicli  is  called  »(«.s7re(7o.  These  llyes  seeme  to  iiaue 
a  greate  power  and  authority  upon  allloyteriug  and  idle  people,  for 
they  have  tliis  property,  that  wiien  they  lind  any  such  lying  lazily 
or  sleeping  in  the  woods,  tliey  will  i)resently  be  more  nimble  to 
sieze  thi'm  than  any  sr.rgeant  will  be  to  arrest  a  man  for  debt, 
lu'itlier  will  tiiey  leave  styngiug  or  sucking  out  the  blood  of  such 
sluggards,  nnlill  like  a  lieadle  they  firing  him  io  his  master,  where 
he  should  labor,  in  which  tyme  of  h)ylering  those  llyes  will  so 
brande  such  iiUe  persons  in  their  faces  that  they  may  be  kuowne 
from  others  as  the  Turkes  doe  their  slaves."  The  wcM'd  ))iosqiiitA) 
is  Si)auisii,  and  it  is  stated  by  Don  Fernando  C'oluml)Us  that  his 
brother  Christopher  was  called  "  the  Admiral  of  ^lostjuito  Land." 
The  land  skirting  the  Istlnnus  of  Panama  is  called  Mosquito;  lint 
T  am  still  inclined  to  lielicve  our  .Muscpiito  is  derived  from  niush'i/to. 
This  particular  instrument  of  warl'are  was  nuicli  in  usi-  in  those 
days.  "Whitbourui'  (jKige  I)  desciibes  how  tlie  Indians  of  Heart's 
Content  "  were  fiiglitened  by  the  shooting  olf  of  a  nniskett."  i\\  a 
map  of  Concei)tiou  Bay,  by  Cajit.  Taverner,  of  1747,  tiiis  harbor 
is  distinctly  given  as  "  Musketto  or  Musket's  Cove."  Ibit  I  must 
also  acknowledge  that  the  mosquito   was   somethnes    so   called. 

'Ml 


n 


1   : 


mmm: 


sssg^^^^sn 


398 


ECCLESIASTICAL  HISTORY 


Tims,  Sir  David  Kirke,  writing  to  Cliailes  T.  (1G29),  asking  loave 
to  fortify  (Quebec,  says  :  "A  besieging  ami}'  cannot  stay  above 
three  niontlis  (in  snininer)  all  in  which  time  the  munkettH  \\\\\  soe 
tornientc  iiim  tiiat  noc  man  is  able  to  b(>  abroadc  in  centry  or 
trenches,  day  or  ni  ''<<"  ^itiiout  loosing  their  sights  at  least  eight 
days."     In  a  list  articles  foniid  at  (^nebec  when  captured 

by  Kirke  from  ('  in  we  find  mention  of  "thirteen  whole  and 

one  broken  m  The  word  is  derived  from  the  name  of  a 

young  hawk.  in  vogue  at  the  time  of  the  invention   ,f  (ire- 

arms ;  the  ne..  .,ea[)on  which  took  down  its  prey  so  swiftly  was 
hence  called  a  muskelt. 


NOTE     2.     (Page  129.) 

Copy  of  Brevet  of  Concession  of  Point  Verde  to  M.  de  Coste- 
belle.  Governor  of  riaceutia,  before  the  Treaty  of  Utrecht, 
17Uy  :  — 

"  Brkvet  de   Conok.sstox   FArrK    at   S"   dk   Costehelle   de   la 

PUE.SQIISLE    DE    LA    PoiNTE    VeUTE. 

"  Anjourdhny  I'nzieme  du  mois  d'aust  mil  sept  cent  neuf  Le  Koy 
estant  a  Versailles.  Le  S'' de  Costebelle  gouverncurdu  fort  Louis 
de  riaisance  dans  I'isle  de  Terre  Neuve  a  fait  remontrer  a  Sa  Ma** 
qu'il  a  fait  oonstruire  sur  le  terrain  de  la  prescpiisle  de  la  I'ointe 
Verte  Ksloigiu'e  d'une  petite  lieue  du  fort  Louis  de  Plaisance  dans 
I'isle  de  Terre  Neuve  des  logemens  avec  une  depense  considerable 
pour  y  placer  une  famille  de  laboureurs  qui  y  est  actuellem' 
avec  une  nombre  de  toute  sortes  de  bestieaux  ;  et  qu'il  en  fait 
depuis  deux  ans  defricher  les  bois  dans  I'esperance  que  la  d.  terre 
ponrra  produire  des  grains.  Et  en  nieme  terns  11  a  fait  sui)[)lier  Sa 
Ma'"  de  luy  concoder  le  d'terrain  a  litre  do  fief  etSeigneurie,  haute 
moyenne  et  basse  justice  a  quoy  Sa  ]\Li"'  ayant  egard  en  consider- 
aon  des  services  du  d'S'  de  Costel)elle  et  des  depenses  cy  dessus. 
Sa  Ma'''  luy  a  accorde  la  presqu'isle  de  la  Pointe  Verte  Kloign<''e 
d'une  petite  lieue  du  fort  de  Plaisance,  Nord  et  sud  de  Tentrc^'e 
de  la  rade,  borntl-e  au  sud  par  une  langue  de  grave  appelee  le  Birge- 
ron.  Sc|)aree  par  u'l  grand  estang  des  graves  des  habitants,  regard- 
ant a  Test  I'entree  du  goulit  et  I'ouest  du  coste  de  la  grande  mer. 
Pour  en  jouir  par  luy,  ses  heritiers,  et  ayant  cause  a  perpetuit6 
comme  de  leur  propre  a  la  charge  de  foy  et  lioinmageau  fort  Louis 
de  Plaisance  et  aux  droits  et  redevauces  ordiuaires  sans  que  po  ce 


»-"9^- 


w 


QF  NEWFOUNDLAND. 


399 


11  soit  tenu  ny  ses  heritiors  et  aj-ant  cause,  do  payor  a  Sa  JVIa'"  uy 
a  ses  successeurs  Roys,  aiieune  finance  ny  iiKloniiiit6  do  la  quelle 
a  quoUf  sommo  qu'ello  i)iiisso  monter  Sa  IMa'"  lour  a  fait  don  et  re- 
mise par  le  put  Brovit.  Kt  on  oas  quo  dans  la  suite  Sa  ^NFa"'  out 
hesoin  do  qiiolq''  partie  dii  d'Torralu  po  y  fairo  construire  des 
forts,  batteries,  phicos  d'arnies,  niagazins  Kglisos  ou  autres 
ouvrages  publics  Sa  Ma"  ponrra  la  prendre  anssy  bien  (pie  lea 
arbres  qui  seront  iiocos«"'  po  lesd.  ouvrages  publics  sans  estre 
tenue  d'aucune  doffiagoiu'. 

"  Et  pour  tenioinage  de  sa  Volontd  Sa  Ma'"  luy  a  accorde  le 
d'Brevet  quelle  a  voulu  signer  do  Sa  ]\Iaiii  et  estre  controsignd  par 
moi  cou"'  Secretaire  d'estat  et  de  ses  comiuandemens  et  Uuauces. 


[translation.] 
Beevet  of  Guant  made  to  Mh.  Costkijki.lk,  ok  the  Peninsula 

OF  Point  \'eute. 

To-day,  eleventh  of  the  mouth  of  August,  one  thousand  seven 
hundred  and  nine,  the  King  being  at  Versailles,  IMr.  Costobelle, 
Governor  of  the  Fort  Louis  of  Placontia,  in  the  Island  of  New- 
foundland, has  roi)roscntod  to  His  ^Majesty  that  he  has  caused  to 
be  constructed  upon  the  land  of  the  Peninsula  of  Point  Vorte, 
distant  of  a  small  league  from  the  Fort  Louis  (jf  Placontia,  in  tiio 
Island  of  Newfoundland,  certain  lodgments,  at  a  considerable 
expense,  in  order  to  place  there  a  family  of  laborers,  which  is 
actually  there  with  a  number  of  all  sorts  of  cattle  ;  and  that  for 
the  past  two  years  ho  has  caused  the  woods  there  to  be  cleared,  in 
the  hope  that  the  said  land  might  produce  some  grain  crops,  and 
at  the  same  time  he  has  caused  His  Majesty  to  be  supplicated  to 


:l 


400 


ECCLESIASTICAL   HISTORY 


griiiit  f,o  Iiiin  the  JiforcsMitl  Iniid.  in  lillo  of  fee  niid  Idrdsliij),  liij^li, 
iiU'Mii,  jiiid  low  jurisdiction,  'rowliidi  Imviiii^  rcuiird  His  M:ijcsty, 
ill  coiisidcnitioii  of  tiic  sciviccs  of  tlic  s;iid  Mv.  Costobcllc,  niid  of 
tlic  ('xpoiiscH  iiforcsaid,  His  !\I;ij('stv  li;is  ur;iii1(>d  to  iiiin  tiio  rciiiii- 
siiln  of  I'oiiit  Vcrti',  distiiiu'C  of  a  siiKiil  Icnuiic  from  tlic  Foil  of 
l'l;i('c:itia,  iiorlli  niid  south  of  the  entrance  of  the  roadstead, 
bounded  on  the  soiitii  by  a  tonjiiie  of  bi'Mcii  called  the  Dirrjeron, 
separated  by  a  l:iii:e  pond  from  the  beaches  of  the  iiiluibitants, 
looking  on  the  east  towards  the  entrance  of  th(^  (Jut,  and  the 
west  on  the  side  of  the  (irent  Sea.  To  enjoy  the  same  by  him, 
his  licifs  and  assigns,  forever  as  their  own,  on  the  condition  of 
fealty  Miid  homage  to  tlie  Fort  Louis  of  I'lacentia,  and  to  tiu! 
ordinary  dues  and  rents,  witiiout  lieing  on  that  account,  held,  nor 
his  heirs  nor  as-sigiis,  to  pay  to  His  Majesty  nor  to  his  Successors 
Kings  any  fine  or  indemnity,  of  which  to  whatever  sum  it  might 
amount.  His  jMajesty  has  made  to  them  gift  and  remission  by 
the  |)i'eseiit  IJrevet,  and  in  case  that  herenfter  His  ^lajesty  niigiit 
have  lu'cd  of  some  portion  of  lh(>  said  land,  to  construct  thereon 
any  forts,  batteries,  parade  grounds,  magazines,  churches,  or 
other  public  works,  without  being  iield  for  any  damages. 

And  in  testimony  of  his  will  His  Majesty  has  granted  to  him 
the  said  lirevet,  which  lit;  has  deigned  to  sign  by  his  hand,  and 
to  be  countersigned  by  me  counseller  (?)  Secretary  of  State  and 
of  his  ordinances  and  finances. 

LOUIS. 

PHELYl'KAUX. 


The  document  has  two  indorsations  in  English,  as  follows  :  — 

Whereas  the  witiiin-mcntioned  riantation  and  ground  were 
formerly  bounded  by  a  gutt  of  water,  wiiich  by  a  late  storm  is  now 
entirely  filled  U[),  I  do  hereby  forbid  any  person  or  persons  to  cutt 
grass  therefrom,  or  by  feeding  of  Ueasts  of  any  sort  on  the  said 
ground  where  the  water  formerly  fiowed,  to  damage  the  af'  planta- 
tion or  grounds,  or  in  any  other  manner  to  molest  the  same,  (iudiiig 
that  the  id'oresaid  flutt  was  the  itroperty  to  the  af  premises. 
Given  under  my  hand  at  I'lacentia,  SepL'.  ye  G"',  1718, 


■«i 


OF   NEWFOUNDLAND. 


401 


rr.A(  KNTiA,  Miiy  20'",  1803. 
Wo  do  hereby  tranHfcr  nnd  nmkc  over  our  solo  rijflit  aiul  titlo 
of  tli(!  williiii  I'.ivvi't  to  M\  W  (iri'ciic,  only  rtwMTiiig  the  ri^ht  of 
(lr!iwiii;j;  Nutts  it  Scyiics  on  the  said  fort,  and  tlio  privilci^o  of  a 
fl!i<j;st!in'  for  tlic  piirjiosc  of  iiiakitij:;  or  rc'iK'atiui.^  signals  thereon, 
as  speclllt'd  hy  a  deed  of  sales  ))earing  date  as  above. 


NOTE     tl.     (Page  215.) 
ELEdY    ON     I'lIE    KKiirr    1!KV.    DIl.    O'DONEL. 

Now,  closed  liW  course  of  labor  and  of  years, 
The  fioodly,  ureal  O'Doiiel  rests  in  peace; 

lie  asks  not  now  our  wailinv;  n<n'  our  tears,  — 

Hnt  shall  his  |>raise  with   Death's  procession  cease? 

Forbid  it,   I'oesy  I     Thy  sister  mourns, 

Tiiy  sister,   Eloquence!     Ueliijion,  see  ! 
Holds  hiifli  his  roll  of  service.     Erin  turns 

With  pensive  look,  with  heaven-toned  harp  to  thee. 

I'oor  Erin  I  'twas  no  wonder  tliat  each  strain 
Flowed  plaintive  I'nnn  her  harp,  attuned  in  f;ricf ; 

Ah!  many  an  "  Aul)urn  "  wept,  for  o'er  the  main, 
Year  after  year,  her  cliildren  sought  relief. 

Heyond  the  western  world  of  waters  still 
The  e\irse  of  penal  coiU;,  attendant  foimd 

In  youth,  forbade  the  lore  that  tamos  the  will; 
They  grew  as  wild  as  desert  woods  around. 

Witli  i)ain  <  )T)onel  saw  tlie  darkness  si)read ; 

Ueligion's  sigli  he  heard:  and,  strong  witli  zeal. 
Loft  friends  and  country  distant  shores  to  tread, 

Where  heart  of  man  was  hardening  into  steel. 

With  words  of  lire  incessant  as  he  prea(;Iie(l, 
And  all  the  woes  of  savage  life  deplored. 

Mis  voice  the  inmost  breast's  recesses  reached, 
.\n(l  awe-struck  sinners  tremblingly  adored. 


402 


ECCLESIASTICAL  HISTORY 


|ji 


lliH  life  alone  would  win  to  virtue's  side; 

Ills  sociiil  <'luirms  would  Imppiin'ss  impart; 
Ills  iiianiicrs,  plain  and  free.  \cl  di^initlcd, 

WiTo  not  too  liij^U  for  laiiKhttr  of  the  lieurt. 

In  hini  tiie  f;')sp('l  cliaritli's  were  scon; 

True  to  Ids  own.  indulgent  unto  all. 
Till!  ciM'diid  welcome  of  the   Isle  of  (Jreen 

Was  e\i'r  felt   witliln  his  lowly  hall. 

Tholr  elieerfnl  olVerlnsfs  proved  how  fond  his  (lock; 

Nor  Hi'ilain  could  withhold  her  ^rnaefui  ndle; 
But  think  not  henec  she  over  dared  to  mock, 

With  au.ijld   like  "■  veio-pay."  his  work  so  l)rii;hl. 

His  day  of  partinj;  for  dear  Krin's  sliadi> 

Was,  throui^h  St.  John's,  a  sorrowing;  day,  indeed; 

Their  splendid  «'''  ""•'  warm  address  disi)layed 
How  loved,  revered,  hy  all  of  every  creed! 

There  may  \\w  writin;;  of  these  lines  renew 
Heart-felt  emotion   for  ids  cherished  nanu- ; 

And  there,   wliile  Heaven  has  i)aid  the  homayc!  due, 
May  Christians  bless  his  labors  and  his  name  I 

Ballyvallock,  Co.  Kilke.nny. 


J.  !•: 


NOTE    4.     {Page  287.) 

In  the  3'ofii'  1770-9,  nn  Kiiglisli  triivoUer  named  Artluir  Young 
made  a  tour  in  Irclaiul,  and  in  his  journal  ha.s  .some  interesting 
items  toufliing  on  tlie  early  intercour.se  between  Newfoundland 
and  Ireland.  "The  staple  trade  of  Wuteiford,"  he  says,  "is  the 
Newfoundland  trade.  .  .  .  The  number  of  people  who  go  as 
passengers  in  the  Newfoundland  ships  is  simply  amazing,  from 
sixty  to  eighty  ships  and  from  three  to  live  tliousand  persons  an- 
nually. Tliey  come  from  most  parts  of  Ireland,  from  Cork,  Kerry, 
etc.  Experienced  men  will  get  eighteen  to  twenty-live  pomids  for 
the  season,  from  March  to  November.  A  man  who  never  went 
will  have  from  five  to  seven  poinids,  and  <  ers  rise  to  twenty 
jiounds  ;  the  passage  out  they  get,  but  pay  home  two  pounds.  An 
industrious  man,  in  a  year,  will  bring  home  from  twelve  to  sixteen 
pounds  with  him,  and  some  more.  A  great  point  for  them  is  to 
be  able  to  carry  out  all  their  slops,  for  everything  there  is  exceed- 
ingly dear,  one  or  two  hundred  per  cent,  dearer  than  they  get  at 


OP  NEWFOUNDLAND. 


403 


lumio.  Thoy  fire  not  allowed  to  tako  out  any  woollen  poods  but 
for  their  own  use.  Tlie  whips  go  loaded  wiiii  pork,  bi'cf,  butler, 
.•ind  some  Halt;  and  bri..g  home  passeniiors,  or  got  freights  wliero 
tlifv  can  —  PoiiiPtiines  rum.  'I'he  Wati'rford  pork  fomes  priiK^i- 
pally  from  tlie  liarony  of  Ivcrk,  in  Kilkenny,  wiiere  they  fatten 
great  numbers  of  large  hogs  ;  for  many  weeks  together  the}'  kill 
liere  tinve  to  four  thousand  a  week  ;  tiu!  price,  fifty  HJiiHings  to 
four  pounds  cjicli ;  goes  ciiielly  to  Newfouiidlant'  One  was  killed 
in  ^Ir.  Penrose's  celhir  that  weighed  live  hundred  and  a  (piarter, 
and  measured,  from  the  nose  to  the  end  of  tlie  tail,  idne  feet  lour 
inches." 

The  "Annual  Ilegistor  and  C'iu-oniele  "  of  ISl,")  contains  tho 
following  inti'icsting  extract:  "Some  idea  of  th(!  extent  of  emi- 
gration from  Ireland  may  be  formed  from  the  following  extract 
of  a  private  letter  dated  at  St.  John's,  Newfoundland,  2;iil  of  this 
niontli  (.Tune)  :  'The  arrivals  from  Ireland,  whicii  have  exceeded 
any  in  tiie  CustoM)-house  book,  exclusive  of  these  vessels  which 
iiave  made  no  return,  are  three  liionsand  and  twenty-six  men  and 
tiiree  hundred  and  seventy-three  women  to  this  hari)or  alone,  but 
the  numbers  far  exceed  the  returns.  The  ca[)tains  have  l)r()Ught 
out  so  many  that  they  are  ashamed  to  return  thenj.  The  wretched 
creatures  are  most  dreadfully  treated  on  tlie  passage.  One  man 
declared  to  me  he  was  but  three  nigiits  below  decks  the  whole  of 
the  voyage,  nor  couhl  he  get  down.  Strange  complaints  have 
been  made  by  a  set  of  wretches  who  came  yesterday  of  the  very 
nearly  starving  condition  they  were  in.  Indeed,  (lovernmeut  must 
put  a  stop  to  such  jjroeeedings,  or  really  a  contagion  will  be  bred 
in  our  streets ;  and  what  will  become  of  them  in  winter  God  oidy 
knows.' " 


NOTE    r*.     {Page  280.) 

The  first  convents  established  in  the  New  "World  were  of  French 
origin.  As  early  as  1(!.")I)  we  learn  from  the  History  of  Ahlx'i 
lirasseur  de  Uourbourg  the  first  Freneii  convent  was  establislied  in 
Canada.  The  Duchess  of  Aiguillon,  niece  of  Cardinal  Ilicholieu, 
foun<lcd  the  Hotel  Dien  at  (Quebec.  The  Augustinienn  'S  of  tho 
Hospital  of  l)iepi)e,  of  the  Congregation  <jf  the  ^lercy  of  Jesus, 
accepted  with  joy  the  otTer  to  take  charge  of  it.  Tinee  of  them 
were  sent  out.  Madame  de  la  Peltrie,  a  young  widow  of  Alengon, 
at   the   same  time  secured  the   services  of  the  Ursulines,  for  the 


I  in 


'Vif'l 


404 


ECCLESIASTICAL   IIISTOUY 


i' 


education  of  the  young.  Slio  wont  to  Toms,  aii<l  there  obtained 
consent  to  have  sent  out  the  celebrated  ^lere  Marie  de  I'liicar- 
nation  (^larie  Clnyeit)  and  Mere  dc  St.  J(>sei)h.  She  gave  np 
all  her  wealth  to  the  project  and  came  out  Iiersclf  with  them,  and 
arrived  at  (Quebec  on  the  1st  of  AiignsI,  1  (•.")',»,  after  a  h)ng  and 
boisterons  passnge,  having  set  sail  tlie  4th  of  May. 

Otlier  French  establishments  were  founded  in  America.  In  1697 
the  Ursulines  at  Quebec,  the  ni(jther-Iiouse  subseipicntly  of  the 
Boston  connnunity  ;  in  1727  tlie  Ursulines  were  estaldislicd  in  New 
Orleans,  which  then  formed  part  of  New  France,  and  which  did 
not  become  a  portion  of  the  United  States  till  180,']. 

In  17U0  the  Ilev.  Father  Neale,  a  descendant  of  one  of  the 
Catholics  families  bi'ought  out  by  Lord  Baltimore,  procured  from 
Ireland,  with  tlie  consent  of  Uisliop  Oarroll,  a  colony  of  Carmelite 
nuns.  'I'liese  were  the  first  Kuglish-speaking  connnunity  that 
crossed  tlie  water,  and  were  four  in  numl)er,  and  we're  settled  at 
Fort  Toljacco,  ^Msiryiaud. 

In  1812  Father  Anthony  Kohlman,  S.J.,  V.(;.of  New  York, 
introduced  three  Ursulines  into  that  city  from  lUack  lioek,  Cork, 
but  not  receiving  any  subjects,  liiey  returned  in  181.'). 

In  1817,  at  the  earnest  request  of  Fatlier  Thayer,  three  young 
ladies  (Misses  Hyan)  of  Limerick  came  out  to  found  a  convent 
in  Hoston.  Tliey  went  to  the  convent  of  Ursulines,  of  Three 
Rivers,  Canada,  to  complete  their  novitiate,  and  fotnided  the  con- 
vent at  ]\It.  St.  Benedict,  Charlestowu,  near  I>oston.  This  con- 
vent was  wrecked  and  burnt  l)y  an  infuriated  mob  in  l.S.i4,  who 
■were  excited  Ity  the  lying  and  sensational  stories  told  by  a  Miss 
Reed,  whom  the  nuns  had  admitted  out  of  charity.  (See  Bishop 
England's  woiks.  Vol.  IV.)  Next  in  order  of  time  came  our 
nuns  of  Newfoundland.  Tliey  wen;  the  first  of  the  Presentation 
Order  who  crossed  tlie  ocean.  The  outrage  oi\  the  .'ouveiit  at 
Charlestowu  was  but  the  bursting  of  over-wrouglit  fanaticism,  and 
must  not  1  J  looked  ui)on  as  the  normal  state  of  American  feeling. 
In  the  following  year,  18.'].'),  we  have  an  account  of  tlic  arrival  of 
another  colony  of  Ui'suliiies  under  Miss  Mary  Iluglies.  They 
were  received  at  Philadelphia  in  a  n-.ost  affectionate  manner  by 
the  people  of  every  persuasion.  They  were  escorted  on  their  way 
to  Charlestowu  by  Bishop  Kngland,  and  in  pas.mig  tiirough  Wash- 
ington were  presented  to  President  Jackson,  wiio  received  tliem 
warmly,  and  rendered  them  every  assistance  and  protection  in  their 
pious  undertakings. 


OF  NEWFOUNDLAND. 


406 


NOTE     O.     {Page  343.) 

Tlie  following  correspondence  bus  never  been  printed  in  extenso. 
It  has  been  litliogniphed,  but  copies  are  now  rare,  if,  indeed,  any 
exist  at  all  besides  tlie  one  in  my  possession  ;  and  even  that,  as 
will  ])e  seen,  is  slightly  imperfect,  letter  No.  8  bi'ing  wanting. 
Notwithstanding  the  great  length  of  the  corre'^pondenee,  T  deem  it 
worthy  of  preservation  ;  but  as  ;l  would  make  to-,  great  a  break 
in  the  historical  narrative,  I  here  place  it  among  the  notes. 


[No.  1.] 
Skcrktauy's  Offick',  IDth  August,  1835. 

Sill,  —  T  am  directed  by  the  Governor  to  inform  you  that  your 
petition,  addressed  to  His  IMajesty,  praying  that  a  certain  portion 
of  the  land  named  "  Tlie  Barrens,"  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of 
the  town  of  St.  John's,  may  be  granted  to  the  C'alholic  inhabitants 
of  the  Island  for  ecclesiastical  purposes,  and  also  tiiat  an  annual 
allowance  may  be  made  to3'ou  for  the  support  of  a  small  vessel,  to 
enable  you  to  communicate  with  j'our  flock,  has  been  received  and 
laid  at  tiie  foot  of  the  tin-one  by  the  I'rincii)al  Secretary  of  State 
for  the  Colonies,  who  had  His  Majesty's  commands  to  return  to 
it  an  answer,  of  which  the  following  is  tlie  substance:  — 

In  regard  to  the  iirst  part  of  the  memorial,  viz.,  the  prayer 
for  a  grant  of  the  portion  of  tiie  land  called  "  The  Barrens,"  at 
present  in  the  possession  of  the  Ordnance  Department,  His  Kxcel- 
lency  has  to  inform  you  that  until  the  arrangements  at  present  in 
progress  with  the  above  department,  in  regard  to  the  delimitation 
of  military  works,  shall  have  been  finally  settled  it  is  impossible  to 
entertain  an  application  for  a  grant  of  land  reserved  for  military 
purposes ;  nor  could  such  an  ai)plication  be,  under  any  circum- 
stances, decided  upon  without  a  previous  reference  to  the  Master 
General  and  Board  of  Ordnance.  The  consideration  of  this  part 
of  your-inemorial  is  therefore  unavoidably  def»>rred.  Should  you, 
however,  wish  hereafter  to  renew  it,  your  representation  must  b(! 
transmitted  through  the  GoviMnor,  in  order  that  His  Majesty's 
Government  may  be  furnished  with  Ilis  Excellency's  report  upon  it. 

U[)ou  the  second  point,  viz.,  tlie  allowance  of  an  annual  sum 
for  the  su|)port  of  a  vessel.  His  Excellency  is  desired  to  aciiuaint 
you  that  Lord  Glenelg  regrets  that  it  is  not  possililc  to  accede  to 
your  wishes.  Considering  that  an  ap[)liealion  is  now  pending 
before  the  Imperial  Pailiament  for  a  grant  of  a  large  sum  iu  aid 


(li 


406 


ECCLESIASTICAL   HISTORY 


of  tlie  funds  of  this  Colony,  it  would  bo  hopeless  to  propose  that  a 
further  sum  should  be  grunted  for  the  serviee  indicated  by  you. 
The  sum  for  which  application  is  made  to  Parliament  will,  if 
voted,  be  so  entirely  consumed  in  defraying  the  indispensable 
charges  of  Government,  that  no  portion  of  it  will  remain  applica- 
ble to  such  a  puri)ose ;  and  there  is  no  fund  witliin  the  Island  at 
the  disposal  of  His  ]Majesty's  Government  from  which  the  desired 
assistance  could  be  afforded.  His  Lordship  is  therefore  under 
the  necessity  of  referring  you  to  the  Colonial  Assembly,  who, 
moreover,  will  be  more  competent  than  His  ^lajesty's  Government 
to  decide  upon  the  urgency  of  the  demand  for  assistance,  and  the 
extent  to  which  it  should  be  allowed. 

Finally,  His  Kxcclloncy,  by  his  Lordship's  order,  desires  me  to 
observe  to  you  that  by  the  course  you  adoi»ted  in  transmitting  your 
memorial,  not  through  the  Governor  (according  to  the  established 
riiles  of  olHcial  correspondence),  but  direct  to  the  Secretary  of 
State,  His  Majesty's  Government  have  been  deprived,  in  the  con- 
sideration of  it,  of  the  advantage  of  tliat  practical  information 
which  they  could  otherwise  have  received. 
I  have  the  honor  to  be,  Sir, 

Your  obedient  humble  servant, 

(Signed)  JAS.    CROWDY. 

[No.  2.] 

Sir,  —  I  have  the  honor  to  lay  before  you,  for  transmission  to 
His  Majesty's  principal  Secretary  of  State  for  the  Colonies,  an 
Address,  a  copy  of  wliich  I  enclose,  praying  his  Loidship  to  pre- 
sent to  His  INLijesty  a  memorial  which  I  had  bad  the  honor  to 
enclose  to  the  Right  Honorable  Thomas  Sjjriug  Rice,  two  or  three 
days  before  your  Excellency  entered  the  port  of  St.  John's ;  as  in 
this  Address  the  principal  features  of  the  memorial  are  portrayed, 
I  would  fain  recpiest  that  your  Excellency  wouUl  liave  the  goodness 
to  support  my  prayer. 

Your  Excellency  perceives  that  the  Catholic  clergy  of  Newfound- 
land stand  foremost  in  tiie  improvement  of  the  country  ;  your 
Excellency  has  oltserved  the  handsome  and  spacious  parochial 
dwelling-house  and  C'ltholic  chnrcli  of  Harbor  (!race,  erected  by 
the  late  Rev.  Mr.  Ewer,  which  form  the  princii)al  embellishment 
of  that  town,  and  also  the  church  of  Carboneer,  raised  by  that 
lamented  gentleman's  successor,   the    Rev.  C.  Dallon. 


OF   NEWFOUNDLAND. 


407 


In  Brigus,  yonr  ExcelkMiey  hns  probably  observed  the  residence 
of  the  Cutliolic  rector,  tlie  Rev.  D.  Mackin,  raised  at  his  own  ex- 
pense, and  tlio  church  of  that  town,  erected  by  the  saiiie  rev.  gen- 
tleman. In  the  northern  district,  nnder  the  Rev.  N.  Deverenx, 
several  harbors  arc  cinltt'Uished  witii  parochial  houses  and  churches, 
even  as  far  as  the  distant  and  sequestered  harbor  of  Tilling  Har- 
bor, in  the  island  of  Fogo.  In  the  district  of  the  Bay  of  Bulls, 
and  of  Ferryland,  the  same  s[)irit  is  evinced  there  as  far  as  St. 
Mary's  Bay.  In  Placenlia  district,  live  churches  are  rising  through 
the  activity  of  the  clergymen  in  tiie  district  of  Burin,  and  the  zeal 
of  the  Kev.  Mr.  Biruie  is  equally  conspicuous  in  the  erection  of 
handsome  edifices  for  the  convenience  of  His  Majesty's  subjects  to 
assemble  in  worshii)ping  tlieir  Creator. 

The  churches  of  Petty  Harbor,  Portugal  Cove,  and  Torbay, 
your  Excellency  has  also  seen  ;  and  I  am  convinced  you  will  say 
that  each  in  a  marked  degree  im|)roves  tiie  little  town  in  which  it 
has  been  raised  ;  and  not  oidy  have  they  brougiit  an  improvement 
in  the  locale,  but  as  each  has  cost  several  hundred  pounds,  tiie  in- 
troduction of  so  mucli  money,  the  principal  i)art  of  whicli  hati 
been  expended  in  these  places,  has  diffused  considerable  comfort 
amongst  the  poor. 

Your  Excellency  is,  I  believe,  aware  that  tlie  principal  i)art  of 
the  expense  of  these  erections  was  defrayed  out  of  my  own  pocket. 
In  fact,  the  three  have  cost  me  nearly  two  thousand  pounds.  There 
were  one  huuih-ed  pounds  collected  in  St.  John's  and  Concei)tion 
Bay  towards  the  chinch  of  Portugal  Cove,  but  the  people  of  tliat 
cove  were  not  al)le  to  suliscribe  one  shilling.  For  the  church  of 
Petty  Harbor,  tlie  people  of  that  little  town  subscribed  about  £00; 
and  tiie  j)eo|)le  of  Torbay  raised  amongst  themselves  about  the 
same  amount  for  the  church  of  Torbay,  and  about  £iu)  wore  col- 
lected from  the  strangers  who  atteiKUnl  at  tlie  consecration. 

In  these  harliors  I  have  removed  the  dead  from  the  doors  of  the 
poor  people,  and  given  tiieiii  ample  cemeteries,  in  some  instances 
by  purchasing  the  ground  out  of  my  own  pocket,  and  in  Petty 
Harbor  iiv  tiie  kindness  and  bonntv  of  vour  Excellen-  'u  iiivinir 
a  grant  of  an  excellent  site  for  that  |)urpose. 

Your  Excellency  is  probably  aware  tiiat  the  Catholic  cemetery 
of  this  town  is  filled  to  an  extent  calculati'd  to  endanger  the  pul)- 
lic  health,  and  there  is  no  ground  suital)le  for  the  purpose  within 
the  precincts  of  the  town,  save  the  ground  mentioned  iii  the  ac- 
companying address,  and  which  forms  the  subject  of  iiiy  memo-  '"*! 


iOSZi 


408 


ECCLESIASTICAL  HISTORY 


to  Ills  Majesty ;  that  is,  the  vacant  ground  on  "The  Barrens," 
near  Fort  Townshend,  on  which  tlie  old  wood  yaid  stands. 

It  is  ujider  these  circumstances  that  I  beg  again  to  request  your 
Excellency  will  bo  pleased  to  support  the  im\yer  of  iny  petition  to 
His  Majesty  for  a  grant  of  that  vacant  patch  of  ground,  bounded 
on  the  south  by  the  road  from  Fort  Townshend  to  Fort  William,  on 
the  west  by  another  road,  and  on  the  north  and  east  by  fenced 
grounds,  which  piece  of  ground  I  understand  is  at  present  in  the 
occupancy  of  the  Honorable  the  Board  of  Ordnance,  an  accedance 
to  which  will  enal)le  nie  immediately  to  commence  a  suite  of  build- 
ings of  stone,  which  will  prove,  I  trust,  a  real  and  substantial 
improvement  to  8t.  John's,  and  will  considerably  promote  the 
extension  of  the  town  to  that  healthful  though  bleak  situation. 
I  have  the  honor  to  remain.  Sir, 

Your  Excellency's,  etc., 

(Signed)  +    MICHAEL  ANTHONY  FLEMING. 

To  II.  E.  Cov.  PuKscorr. 
June  21,  183G. 

[No.  3.] 

To  THE  Right  IIonoraulk  His  Majesty's  Secuetahy  oi'  State 
FOK  THE  Colonies  :  — 

Mv  Loi!i>,  —  A  few  days  before  the  arrival  in  this  country  of 
His  Excellency  (lovenior  Prescott,  and  while  Sir  Thomas  Cochrane 
was  making  i)reparations  for  his  dei)arture  for  England.  I  had 
the  honor  to  address  a  memorial  to  His  Majesty,  through  His 
Majesty's  then  Secretary  of  State  for  the  Colonies,  the  Ilonoi'able 
Thomas  S|)ring  Kice,  setting  forth  the  claims  of  tiie  Catholic 
population  of  Newfoundland  upon  His  Majesty,  superadding  those 
of  the  Catholic  clergy,  and  praying  for  a  grant  of  waste  ground 
called  "  The  Barrens,"  near  Fort  Townshend,  ikjw  in  the  occupancy 
of  tlie  Honorable  the  Board  of  Ordnance,  for  the  erection  of  a 
cluu'ch,  a  dwelling  house  for  the  ciergynuin,  a  school-hou.ie,  and 
convenient,  also,  for  a  imblic  cemetery. 

In  that  memorial  I  took  care,  my  Lord,  to  urge  that  the  Catholics 
of  Newfoundhind  had  never  had  from  His  Majesty's  (Government, 
directly  or  indirectly,  a  single  mark  of  favor,  notwithstanding  that 
they  had  exhibited  the  most  marked  loyalty  in  seasons  of  the 
greatest  dilliculty,  and  had  always  distinguished  themselves  as 
useful  citi/A'iis  and  good  subjects;  while  the  Protestant  portion  of 
the   population  have  had,  either  directly  or  through  The  Society 


OF   NEWFOUNDLAND. 


409 


for  the  Propagation  of  the  Gospel  in  Foreign  Parts,  the  most 
substantial  [jioofs  of  the  royal  protection. 

1  have  shown  tiie  rrotostant  population  in  the  enjoyment  of  an 
ami)lo  church,  witii  a  spacious  cemetery  adjoining,  a  handsome 
residence,  with  a  garden,  etc.,  for  the  rector,  besides  glebe  grounds 
to  contribute  to  his  support;  and  the  Catholics  obliged  to  pay  an 
enormous  i-ent  for  the  Itare  site  of  their  church,  in  a  situation  so 
circumscrilied  as  not  to  admit  of  increase,  altliougli  the  [)resent 
edifice  is  so  small  that  frecpiently  several  hundreds  of  the  congrega- 
tion are  compelled  to  abide  the  pelting  of  the  pitiless  storm,  in  all 
seasons,  while  assisting  in  the  \vorsliii)  of  their  Creator,  in  the 
capital  of  the  Colony  of  Newfoundland. 

I  have  shown  that,  all-insu(licient  as  this  building  is  in  extent  for 
the  congregation,  it  is  in  a  considerably  dilapidated  state,  and  that 
it  would  not  be  judicious  to  erect  a  new  one  on  the  same  site,  par- 
ticularly as  none  but  a  terminable  lease  can  be  had  of  the  ground. 

I  have  shown  that  the  Protestant  rector,  the  Archdeacon,  and  I 
now  might  add,  1  believe,  another  clergyman  of  the  Church  of 
England,  in  St.  John's,  and  all  tlie  Protestant  clergy  in  the  rest  of 
the  Island,  received  large  salaries  from  Governinont,  either  directly 
or  through  tlie  same  medium,  and  adverted  to  the  [jrincely  [)eiision 
of  the  Pishoi)  of  Xova  Scotia  ;  wiiile  tiie  duties  of  chaplains  to 
the  jails  and  the  garrisons,  and  the  hospitals,  etc.,  botii  military 
and  colonial,  in  addition  to  tlie  routine  duties  of  tlu.'  Mission,  have 
been  cheerfully  discharged  by  Catholic  clergymen  during  the  last 
fifty  years  all  over  the  Island,  \vithout  the  least  prospect  of  re- 
nnnieration,  save  the  small  pittance  of  £~')  aninially  doled  out  to 
the  Rishof)  ;  and  tliat  in  addition  to  all  those  favors  before  alluded 
to  bestowi'd  u[)()n  the  Protestant  po[tiilation,  even  in  the  year  IS,!! 
u  grant  was  "iven  bv  Sir  Thomas  Cochrane  of  the  site  of  a  second 
Protest.ant  chiu'ch  in  St.  John's. 

]\Iy  Lord,  in  enumerating  some  of  tlie  good  things  enjoyed  by  Iho 
Protestants  of  Ni'wroundlaud,  belii've  me,  1  am  not  actuated  by 
any  selfish  feelings  of  envy  ;  nor  do  I  think  His  Majesty's  (iovern- 
ment  have,  in  tlic  slightest  degree,  cxceedi-d  tlie  rigid  bounds  of 
duty  in  according  tlicst;  favors.  No,  I  have  the  honor  to  enjoy 
the  friendship  of  many  of  tiiat  communion,  and  jiarticularly  the 
Rev.  Rector  of  St.  .lohn's  ;  and  I  will  say,  that  they  aw  iiighly 
deserving  the  countenance  bestowecl  upon  tiiem,  and  that  that 
amiable  and  reveri'ud  gentleman  is  truly  worthy  tiie  enjoyment  of 
tho  comforts  of  his  rectory.     But  while  I  make  this  admission,  1 


uumia 


410 


ECCLESIASTICAL   HISTORY 


do  lliink  that  the  Catholic  popiihxtion  are  equally,  lii  the  abstract, 
entitled  to  the  consideration  of  His  Majesty's  Government ;  and 
that  that  claim  comes  more  strengthened  in  propcn'tion  as  their 
number  is  greater  than  the  others,  and  the  nnml)er  of  Catholic 
clerics,  as  com[)ared  with  Protestants,  in  this  Island,  is  fully  as 
three  to  one. 

I  attempted,  I\Iy  Lord,  to  prove  that  inequidity  of  protection  is 
calculated  to  induce  distrust  and  dissatisfaction;  but  that  a  diffu- 
sion of  religion  to  all  awaken  allegiance,  which  an  ecpial  participa- 
tion in  the  favors  of  tlie  Crown  can  perhai)S  best  render  durable. 

My  Lord,  in  my  present  prayer  to  His  Majesty  I  cannot  have  a 
self-interested  motive  ;  my  holding  is  only  for  life;  and  when  I 
reflect  that  in  the  nifn'e  dischnrge  of  the  ordinary  duties  of  my 
care,  I  have  wasted  my  strength  and  impaired  my  constitution,  I 
feel  that  temue  cannot  be  expected  to  be  h)ng.  It  is  not,  then, 
for  myself  I  pray,  —  it  is  to  be  enabled  to  advance  the  best  interests 
of  His  Majesty's  subjects,  and  to  promote  the  glory  of  God. 

JNIy  Lord,  yoin*  Lordship  has  been  pleased  to  comuuniicate  lh:it 
my  memorial,  not  having  been  transmitted  through  His  Kxcelh  ncy 
the  Governor,  has  been  regarded  as  informal ;  but  that  inlbrmalily 
arose  j)riuciiially  from  the  circumstance  of  bir  Thonuis  Cochrane 
being  about  to  depart  from  this  country,  and  my  having  no  idi-a 
as  to  whether  it  was  likely  a  successor  would  be  ai)p()inted  spi'cdily  ; 
and  as  your  Lordship  has  been  pleased  to  say  tliat  I  might  at  a 
futin'o  time  renew  that  petition,  i)ermit  me,  my  Lord,  to  rcMjuest,  as 
I  have  the  honor  to  transmit  this  address  to  your  Lordsiiip,  through 
His  Excellency  Governor  Prescott,  reciting  as  itdoi-s  the  jn'Incipal 
arguments  or  f;icts  of  that  petition,  and  a  coi)y  of  which  I  have 
had  the  honor  to  lay  before  His  Kxcelleiicy,  tlitit  your  l.ordshii),  re- 
garding my  memorial  now  as  "  transmitti'd  througii  tlu'  (iovernor," 
will  graciously  please  to  lay  it  at  the  loot  of  His  Majesty's  august 
throne,  and  by  advocating  its  luuuble  prayer,  enable  me  forthwith 
to  commence  the  erection  of  a  suite  of  stone  buildings  that  will,  I 
trust,  prove  a  credit  to  the  colony,  and  will  stand  forever  a  monu- 
ment of  the  liberality  and  nuuiiticeiice  of  our  King. 
I  have  the  honor,  3Iy  Lord,  to  subscribe  myself, 

Your  Lordshi[)'s  most  obedient,  humble  servant, 
(Signed)  MICHAEL   ANTHONY   FLEMING. 

JuNi:2lst,  I8;u>. 


OF  NEWFOUNDLAND. 


411 


[No.  4.] 
To  TiiK  Kir.iiT  IIoNouAULK  Sill  Gkokgk  Grey,  Bart.  :  — 

SiK,  —  It  will  1)0  in  your  recollection  tlmt  I  took  the  liberty  of 
trou!)lin<j;  you  with  an  :ukhcss,ilati'cl  the  'ilstof -June,  contJiiniui;;  the 
priuci|)al  ai'minionts  and  facts  of  a  petition  which  I  had  the  honor  of 
laying  before  Ilis  Majesty's  Secretary  of  State  for  the  Colonies,  the 
Hon.  Spring  Rice,  two  years  ago,  praying  for  a  piece  of  waste 
ground,  called  "The  Barrens,"  outside  the  town  of  St.  John's,  for 
the  erection  of  a  church,  a  school,  a  residence  for  the  clergymen, 
and  also  for  a  public  cemetery. 

In  that  address  I  took  leave  to  state  the  claims  of  the  Catholic 
priests  and  Catholic  people  of  Newfoundland  ui)on  Ilis  Majesty's 
Government,  but  I  omitted  to  urge  on  your  consideration  the 
entertainment  of  my  own  individual  claims,  and  now  beg  most 
respectfully  to  submit,  that  for  the  last  twelve  yeuis  I  have  made 
many  most  severe  sacrifices  for  that  country. 

My  visitations  in  that  Island  are  made  amid  every  privation  that 
can  render  life  uncomfortable,  obliged  to  beg  a  passage  in  a  lisiiing- 
schooner  to  an  oiit-harbor,  and  then  to  cross  extensive  and  turbu- 
lent bays  in  open  boats,  to  pass  night  after  niglit  sleeping  in  the 
woods  upon  a  few  boughs  or  among  rocks,  for  weeks  witiiout  lying 
upon  a  bed  or  changing  a  single  raiment,  to  convey  the  soolhings 
of  religion  to  His  Majesty's  Catholic  subjects.  At  my  own 
expense  I  have  established  an  institution  for  tlie  education  of  the 
poor,  and  from  my  own  pocket  maintain  that  establishment,  at 
which  a  thousand  childi'en  are  daily  receiving  a  gratuitous  educa- 
tion. I  pay  sixty  pounds  per  annum,  with  board  and  lodging,  for 
an  extra  clergyman  to  attend  the  garrisons,  the  jail,  and  military 
and  colonial  hospitals.  For  all  these  sacrilices  which  I  have 
made  and  am  daily  making  fortiie  bi'uelit  .'ind  improvement  of  Ilis 
ISIajesty's  subjects,  unmixed  witli  any  other  motive  wliutsocver,  I 
nnist  beg  to  say  that  I  feel  I  have  strong  claims  on  Ilis  Majesty's 
Government;  and  all  these  claims  I  willingly  add  to  the  claim  of 
the  people,  praying  you,  in  all  humility,  to  take  that  address  into 
your  kind  consideration. 

The  piece  of  ground  I  pray  for  is  that  part  of  "  The  Barrens  " 
on  which  the  garrison  wood-yard  stood,  containing  about  ten  acres, 
perhaps  eleven,  as  described  on  a  map,  which  I  sliould  feel 
anxious  to  lay  before  you,  if  you  allow  me  the  honor  of  an 
interview. 


r 


qna 


412 


ECCLESIASTICAL   HISTORY 


Sir,  in  acceding?  to  tlie  Ciitliolics  of  Newfoundland,  either  b}'  a 
grant  or  for  a  small  purchasable  rent,  —  because  it  is  the  only  spot 
unoceu|)i('d  by  biiildiiigs,  or,  in  faet,  the  only  spot  within  the  prc- 
cints  of  the  town  that  can  be  held  in  fee,  — would  go  far  to  con- 
vince the  people  of  the  paternal  solicitude  of  His  Majesty  for  their 
general  interi'sts.  It  is  a  favor  that  could  not  fail  to  bo  ever  alive 
in  their  memory  ;  it  is  a  boon  that  we  have  reason  to  think  ought 
to  be  granted,  for  we  are  a  Catholic  i)eo[)le,  wiio  having  maintained, 
amid  occasions  of  n)ucli  dilliculty,  and  danger,  and  temptation,  a 
loyalty  and  attachment  to  our  King  and  Constitution  (witness,  my 
Lord,  the  Newfoundland  Volunteers,  princii);dly  Catholic,  in  tl'.e 
days  of  trouble),  yet  nc^ver  have  we  received  a  siugh;  mark  of 
Royal  favor,  —  not  a  single  acre  of  ground  for  any  public  pur- 
pose whatsoever. 

The  receipt  of  a  note  from  INFr.  Sheil  informing  me  of  the  kind 
manner  in  which  you  have  been  pleased  to  express  yourself  to  him 
and  to  jNIr.  Hall,  on  the  subject  of  my  application,  awakens  in  me 
an  ardent  hope  that  you  will  advocate  our  cause,  and  plead  in  the 
j)roper  (piarter  fov  the  long-neglected,  though  loyal,  pe(}ple  of 
Newfoundland  ;  and  if,  in  presuming  to  call  your  attention  now  to 
a  subject  so  interesting  to  the  i)oor  Catholics  of  tliat  country,  I 
have  trespassed  too  far  on  your  time  and  patience,  I  beg  to  offer 
as  an  apoloyv  that  mv  limited  circumstances  would  be  nuich 
affected  in  this  ('xpensive  place  by  a  huigtlieued  (h'hiy,  and  also 
the  danger  to  which  my  life  would  be  ex[)os(Ml  by  api)ro:iciiing 
that  coast  after  the  middle  of  September,  are  the  reasons  which 
induce  me  humbly  to  beseech  you  to  give  it  your  earliest  considera- 
tion, and  you  will  lay  me,  and  the  7(),U()0  Catholics  of  that  Island, 
under  a  deep  and  lasting  obligation  to  you. 
I  have  the  honor,  Sir,  to  subscribe  myself, 

Your  most  obedient,  humble  servant, 

(Signed)  MICHAEL   ANTHONY    FLEMING, 

Catholic  Bishop. 
No.  7  Aiu  Stukkt,  August  ir)tli,  18130. 


[No.  5.] 
)owNiNG  Stukkt,  17tli  August,  1830. 
Sm,  —  I  have  received  and  have  laid  before  Lord  Glenelg  your 
letter  of  the  loth  inst.,  on  the  subject  of  your  apjilication  for  the 
grant  of  a  piece  of  laud  in  Newfoundland  for  the  purpose  of  erect- 


OF   NEWFOUNDLAND. 


413 


iug  upon  it  a  i)liice  of  worship,  a  school-house,  and  a  rosidenco 
for  a  Catholic  clcrf^ymaii.  In  repl}',  I  am  to  inform  you  that  a 
former  communication  from  you  on  this  subject  liaviiifj;  been  re- 
ceived from  Captain  Prescott,  it  was  immediately  referred  for  tiio 
consideration  of  the  IVIaster  Gcinernl  and  IJoard  of  Ordnance,  in 
whose  possession  the  land  at  present  is.  Lord  Gcnclg  has  directed 
a  further  comminiication  to  l)c  addressed  to  that  department,  I'o- 
(luesting  them  to  favor  him  witii  an  early  answer  on  the  (pieslion. 

With  respect  to  your  wish  for  an  interview  with  me  at  thisOfllce, 
I  must  exi)rc?>s  my  regret  that  during  the  session  of  I'ailiament 
the  mnltii)licity  of  my  duties  v.ill  hardly  admit  of  my  naming  a 
time  at  which  it  would  be  possible  for  me  to  receive  you. 
I  have  the  honor  to  be,  Sir, 

Your  most  obedient  serv't, 

(Signed)  GEO.    GREY. 

llcv.  Dr.  Fi,K.Mix(i,  \lv  Street,  Piccadilly. 


[No.   G.] 

DowNixo  Stukkt,  31st  August,  18;1C. 
Sir,  —  With  reference  to  my  letter  of  the  17th  iiist.,  I  am 
directed  by  Lord  Glenelg  to  acquaint  you  that  the  ^Lister  General 
and  lioiird  of  Ordnance  have  iufoi'ined  his  Lordsliip  tliat  witiiout 
furtlier  inforniMtion  from  their  olliccrs  in  >.'cwfoundland  they  are 
unable  to  decide  whether  the  land  for  which  you  have  api)lied 
could  without  detriment  to  tlie  public  service  be  appropriated  to 
the  purposes  coiitemi)lat(!d  by  you.  The  Governor  of  the  Colony 
and  the  Ordnance  ollicers  on  the  station  will  therefore  be  directed 
immediately  to  transmit  the  necessary  information  for  tiie  guidance 
of  the  Master  General  and  IJoard,  and  when  that  shall  have  been 
received  no  time  will  be  lost  in  deciding  on  the  application  which 
you  have  preferred. 

1  have  the  honor  to  be.  Sir, 

Your  most  obedient  serv't, 

(Signed)  JAS.    STEPHEN. 

Rev.  Dr.  Fi.kminc. 

[No.  7.] 
Downing  Stkket,  27th  .Lanuary,  \8o7. 
Sir,  —  In  answer  to  your  noteoftlie  "illli  inst.,  I  am  directed  l)y 
Lord  Glenelg  to  inform  you  that  the  Master  General  and  IJoard  of 


on 


*U 


ECCLESIASTICAL  HISTORY 


Ordnance  have  roported  to  his  Lordsliip  that  hefore  decidhig  on 
your  api)licatiou  for  a  piece  of  hind  on  which  to  erect  a  ciiurcli 
and  school-lionso  it  will  be  necessary  to  obtain  from  the  Clovernor 
of  Newfoundland  a  comprehensive  rei)ort  on  all  the  public  build- 
ings whieli  il  is  i)roposed  to  eri'ot  on  Ordnance  lands,  in  order  that 
some  general  plan  may  be  adopted  with  respect  to  them.  Captain 
IVescott  has  accordingly  been  directed  to  furnish  such  a  rei)ort, 
on  the  receipt  of  which  no  lime  will  bu  h)sL  in  coming  to  a  decision 
ou  your  application. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  Sir, 

Your  most  obedient  servant, 

(Signed)  GEO.    GREY. 

The  Rtv.  Dr.  Flemixo,  5  Conduit  Street. 


1 


[No.  8,  missing,  is  from  Sir  George  Grey  to  Dr.  Fleming.  It 
is  alluded  to  by  Dr.  Fleming  in  No.  12.  It  stated  that  if  the  con- 
cession of  the  land  would  not  interfere  with  Fort  Townshend  as  a 
military  station,  the  laud  would  be  granted.  It  was  dated  Feb.  S>, 
1837.]" 


[No.  9.] 

Downing  Stijickt,  2r)th  March,  1837. 
Sill,  —  With  reference  to  my  letter  of  the  9th  ult.,  I  am  directed 
by  Lord  Glenelg  to  enclose  herewith  for  your  inlormation  the  copy 
of  a  letter  from  the  Secretary  to  the  Ordnance  conveying  the  de- 
cision of  the  Master  (ieneial  and  Hoard  on  your  api;lieution  for 
certain  land  in  the  vicinity  of  Fort  Townshend  in  Newfoundland. 
I  also  enclose,  in  exi)lanation  of  Mr.  IJyham's  letter,  a  copy  of  the 
rejwrt  from  Captain  Walker,  of  the  iMigiueers,  to  which  allusion  is 
therein  made. 

Lord  (iienelg  desires  me  to  state,  that  in  conformity  with  the 
decision  of  the  Master  General  and  Board  of  Ordnance,  the  Gov- 
ernor of  Newfoundland  will  be  instructed  to  grant  to  you  so  imich 
of  the  land  in  question  as  may  1)e  necessary  for  the  ecclesiastical 
buildings  which  it  is  your  intention  to  erect. 
1  have  the  honor  to  be.  Sir, 

Your  most  obedient  servant, 

(Signed)  GEO.  GREY. 

Rev.  Dr.  Fleming,  5  Conduit  Street. 


OF   NEWFOrXDLAND. 


415 


[No.  10.] 
Ofkkk  of  Okdnaxoe,  8th  Marcli,  18.17. 

Sir,  —  Referring  to  the  commuiiiciition,  which  hy  coiniMiviid  of 
Die  IMtistor  Gcnenil  and  IJoartl  of  Ordnance  I  liad  the  lni.ior  to 
make  to  tlie  Secretary  of  State  for  the  Colonies,  in  my  letter  to  you 
under  date  tiie  12lli  Dec.,  18;U!,  on  the  Huhject  of  tlie  reqnested 
appropriation  of  a  part  of  tiie  Ordnance  ground  near  Fort  Towns- 
hcnd,  Newfoundland,  as  a  site  for  tlie  erection  of  a  IJonian  Cath- 
olic chapel  and  schools,  — 

r  have  the  honor  to  acquaint  you,  for  the  information  of  Lord 
filenelg,  that  in  consequence  of  a  further  explanation  from  tlie  ap- 
plicants, by  which  it  ainiears  lliat  ;ill  they  desire  is  a  grant  of  the 
ground  on  which  to  erect  their  chapel  and  schools,  witiioiit  any 
protection  in  a  military  point  of  view,  the  blaster  Gencrtil  and 
Hoard  have  resumed  the  consideration  of  tiie  subject,  whether  the 
ground  in  question,  on  that  understanding,  could  be  given  up 
without  injury  to  the  public  service,  and  have  decided  (as  it  is  not 
in  contemplation  to  restore  Fort  Townshend  as  a  work  of  defence, 
and  that  as  soon  as  the  new  barracks  arc  constructed  on  Signal 
Hill  the  troops  will  be  removed  (roni  the  foriiier  post)  to  grant  such 
portion  of  tiie  ground,  referred  to  in  Capt.  Walker's  report  to  the 
Colonial  Secretary  of  the  13th  October  Inst,  as  may  be  sutlicient 
for  erecting  the  proposed  chapel  and  schools,  —  the  plots  of  ground 
being  marked  yellow  and  blue  on  the  sketch  to  wliieii  Ciptain 
Walker's  letter  refers,  —  but  the  precise  quantity  the  Master  (ion- 
eral  and  Hoard  submit  should  be  fixed  by  the  local  Government, 
and  the  result  reported  for  their  information  ;  and  1  am  to  request 
that  you  will  move  the  S(>cretary  of  State  to  give  the  necessary 
directions  for  this  purpose,  corresponding  instructions  having  been 
given  to  the  commanding  Koyal  l^igineer  at  the  station. 

I  have,  &c. 

(Signed)  R.  BYIIAM. 


[No.  11.] 

Engtn'eeu's  Offick,  Oct.  1.3,  183fi. 
Sir, — Referring  to  your  letter  of  the   11th  inst.,  I  have  the 
honor  to  state  for  the  information  of  the  Governor  that  the  ground 
on  the  western  side  of  Fort  Towiiahend  is  crossed  by  a  roail  lead- 
ing from  the  fort,  and  that  part  of  that  ground  has,  at  much  labor 


410 


ECCLESIASTICAL  HISTORY 


'':| 


and  ovponso,  been  fenced  and  l)roii<r]it  into  cultivation  as  p;ard('nH 
by  tilt'  tni'M  of  tilt!  Hoyal  V't'tcran  C'oinpaiiifH.  Tiii;  want  of  tiii'so 
gardens  would  bo  felt  by  the  men  as  a  very  serious  privation, 
besides  the  loss  of  the  interest  antl  f)eeupatif)n  which  the  cultiva- 
tlt)n  of  (he  ffroiMid  alTonls  and  whielt  tends  so  <ijreally  ti>  tiieir 
good  conduct.  Ju  tiie  accouipaiiyinsf  skett!h  tlie  jfrouiul  to  wiiieh 
1  have  generally  referred  is  tinteil  red  ;  any  location  of  three  or 
four  acres  on  this  ground,  reserving  the  roail  aiitl  garilens,  would 
be  of  an  inconvenient  figure  for  the  intended  erections,  and  would, 
besides,  a|)[)roach  much  too  c)ose  to  the  fort. 

The  Governor  will,  perhaps,  permit  me  to  direct  his  attention 
to  two  fields  to  the  north  and  8t)uth  of  tliis  ground  reH[)ectively, 
and  separated  from  it  by  the  public  roails,  iil'lording  to  them  a 
ready  access,  either  of  which  i)ossibly  may  meet  Dr.  Fleming's 
views  ;  the  first,  tinteil  yellow,  containing  two  acres  and  thirty-six 
perciies,  has  been  fenced  and  cultivated  by  the  successive  com- 
mandants of  the  garrison  ;  the  last,  tinted  i)bie,  containing  about 
four  and  oue-JKilf  acres,  is  uncultivated,  antl.  if  I  may  be  allowed 
to  ofl'er  an  oi)iiiion,  is  well  atlapted  for  the  site  of  the  church,  etc., 
which  Dr.  Fleuiing  proposes  to  erect. 

I  have,  etc., 

(Signed)  A.  WALKER, 

Cupt.  n.  E. 


[No.  12.     Plan  of  Ordnance  ground  which  accompanied  Colonel 
Walker's  report.] 

[No.  13.     Plan  of  the  ground  applied  for  by  Dr.  Fleming.] 


[No.  14.] 
32  Craven  Street,  March  7th,  18.18. 
My  Lord, — Having  been  absent  from  England,  I  had  not  the 
honor  to  receive  your  Lordship's  letters  of  Feb.  !)th  and  March 
2r)th  until  the  month  of  -Tune.  You  were  good  enoiigii  to  enclose 
a  letter,  dated  March  8th,  from  the  .Secretary  of  the  Ordnance, 
"  conveying  the  decision  of  the  Master  General  and  lioard  of 
Ordnance  on  my  application  for  certain  lautls  in  the  vicinity  of 
Fort  Townshend,  in  Newfoundland,  together  with  Lieut. -Col. 
Walker's  report."  Permit  me,  in  reply  to  these  communications, 
respectfully  to  observe  :  — 


OF  NEWFOUNDLAND. 


417 


Fimt.  Tliat  I  liud  had  tlm  honor  to  transinit  to  (lovcnimciit  ii> 
the  aiituinii  of  1H;M  a  nicinorial  i)i'ayiii.i?  for  a  grant  of  a  ccrtiiiii 
pk'co  of  hind  to  (ho  eastward  of  Fort  TownHhcnd,  lu'inj;  that  por- 
tion of  groiMid  tlicn  occupied  by  tlie  Hoard  of  Ordnance  wliicii  la}' 
nearest  to  the  town  of  St.  .lolni's,  and  hein<;  llie  only  portion 
thereof  wiiich  presented  a  frontai^e  snilahle  to  tiie  purposes  for 
whicli  it  was  asived,  viz.,  the  erection  of  a  Catiiolic;  clmreh  for  a 
congren'atioii  of  upwards  of  twelve  tiiousand  peoph;,  a  residence 
for  tiie  cli'i'jiy,  and  snlll<'ient  parochial  ciiarity  schools,  the  rear 
to  be  laid  ont  as  a  hnrial-nroinid. 

To  this  Mieinorial  tli«(  snbstance  of  yonr  ]i()r(lshii)'s  rei)ly,  dated 
19th  Aiignst,  1  «;>."),  was  eonimnnicated  to  ine  by  His  Kxc-ellcncy 
the  (Jovcrnor,  whereby  I  learned  tliut  until  "'the  deliniitation  of 
milit:iry  works  shonld  be  liiially  settled,  it  was  imp()ssil)le  to  enter- 
tain an  a|)plicati()M  for  a  grant  of  land  reserved  for  military  pur- 
poses." 

Si'coikJI'/.  a  short  time  after  the  receipt  of  (his  intimation,  T 
learned  that  tht^  arrangements  reiitmling  "military  worivs "  had 
been  completed  (see  Appendix  No.  1).  I  addressed  a  letter 
through  the  Governor  (No.  2)  to  your  Lordship,  dated  .lune  21st, 
lS.'5(j  (No.  .")),  renewing  my  memorial,  because  I  (hen  understood 
that  Fort  Townshend  had  been  condemned  as  a  military  i)ost,  and 
on  my  arrival  in  London  in  August  following,  by  letter  to  Sir 
George  Grey,  of  date  loth  August  (No.  1),  re[)eated  that  renewal 
again,  distinctly  specifying  tlie  particular  piece  of  land  I  was 
seeking. 

The  ground  laid  down  for  deferring  the  consideration  of  my 
memorial,  viz.,  the  necessity  of  lirst  satisfying  the  Board  of 
Ordnance  that  the  grant  of  that  piece  of  laud  would  not  inteifere 
with  the  arrangements  rendered  necessary  for  (lie  military  works 
of  tluit  coinitry,  formed  (he  subject  of  Sir  CJeorge  (Jrey's  reply  of 
the  17th  of  the  same  month  (No.  o),  and  on  the  31st  Mr. 
Steiihen's  letter  (No.  G)  reiterates  i(,  if  jjossible,  more  strongly, 
stating  that  the  Hoard  of  Ordnance,  until  (hey  had  finificr  \i\- 
fornuition  from  Newfoundland,  were  '*  unable  (o  decide  whether 
the  land  f>r  vhich.  yon  have  applied  could,  without  detriment  to 
the  public  service,  be  ai>i)ropriated  to  the  purposes  eontenii)lated 
by  you." 

Jn  this  manner,  my  Lord,  during  the  years  l-So")  and  183G,  all 
the  communications  from  your  Lordship,  Sir  George  Grey,  Mr. 
Stephen,   and  Capt.  I'rescott,   led  me  to  consider  that  the  only 


418 


ECCLESIASTICAL  HISTORY 


obstncle  standing  in  the  way  of  the  Catliolie  people  of  Newfonn-'l- 
liiiid  on  this  ootasion  was  fonndcd  on  tlie  contingency  wlictiu'r  or 
not  Fort  Townshend  slionld  continne  a  military  station.  Such  was 
the  only  ground  of  objection  adverted  to  by  3'our  Lordship  in  your 
despatch  to  Governor  Prescott  in  IH',]')  ;  such  was  the  only  objec- 
tion mooted  by  Sir  George  Grey  and  ]\Ir.  Stephen,  and  1  naturally 
expected  that  if  the  Hoard  should  at  any  time  decide  that  tiiis 
piece  of  land  was  not  wanted  for  "  military  purposes,"  no  new 
ground  of  ol)jection  could  arise. 

ThinVij.  My  Lord,  the  letter  last  alluded  to  of  Sir  George 
Grey  (Aug.  31st,  1836)  coulil  leave  no  doubt  on  my  mind  tiiat  my 
application  must  be  successful,  founded  as  it  was  upon  strict 
justice.  I  was  aware  that  Fort  Townshend  had  been  comlenmed 
as  a  military  station,  and  as  this  letter  acquainted  me  that  the 
Colonial  Odlce  needed  more  information  tiian  the}'  had  had  in  the 
original  report  of  the  Ordnance  officers,  of  which  report  I  have  not 
been  honored  with  a  copy,  and  that  tiie  Governor  had  been  com- 
municated with  on  the  subject,  notwithstanding  that  tlio  delay 
sniijected  me  to  great  personal  inconveniei:  c,  notwithstanding 
that  it  must  necessarily  induce  the  abandonment  of  my  poor  but 
numerous  congregation  for  the  entire  winter,  I  detei'mined  to  await 
the  result  in  patience. 

Fimrllihj.  Li  January,  1837,  at  length  I  once  more  respectfully 
called  your  Lordship's  attention  to  my  claim,  convinced  that,  after 
a  lapse  of  live  months  since  the  da';e  of  your  Lordship's  last  com- 
munication, the  requisite  information  must  have  been  iiad  ;  but  I 
own  my  astonishment  was  great  to  .indliy  Sir  George  (Jrey's  reply, 
Jan.  27,  1837  (No.  7),  nearly  tii  ee  years  from  the  date  of  my 
first  ai)plication,  that  before  Ihc  Board  of  Ordnance  could  now 
report,  a  new  reference  nnist  be  made  to  the  authorities  in  New- 
foundland for  a  comprehensive  rei)ort  <jn  all  the  puiilic  buildings 
which  it  was  proi)osed  to  erect  on  the  Ordnance  lands. 

FifJibj.  'Jiuis,  my  Lord,  a  new  and  most  nnexpected  dela^'  was 
created  to  any  decision  in  favor  of  acconnnodation  for  religious 
worship  and  for  the  education  of  at  least  tln'ee-l'ourtiis  of  Her 
Majesty's  faithful  subjects,  the  inhal)itants  of  tiie  town  of  St. 
John's.  These  most  important  and  interesting  objects  were  to  be 
postponed  nntil  the  discretion  of  the  local  antiiorities  .should  bo 
satisfied  upon  matters  of  certainly  trivial  comparative  value,  —  local 
authorities,  too,  of  whom  I  may  be  permitted  to  say,  I  had  reason 
to  know  I  could  not  expect  from  thera  the  same  iujparlial  con- 


OF  NEWFOUNDLAND. 


419 


siileration  wlilcli  I  was  sure  I  slioiild  meet  from  your  Lordship.  It 
was  then  fore  that  I  felt  the  greatest  satisfaction  at  the  honor  of 
receiving  the  coininiinications  of  the  9tl)  February  and  25th  of 
March,  1837  (Nos.  8  and  «). 

Sixthly.  Tlie  letter  of  the  9th  February  closes  in  these  words : 
"  Lord  Glenelg  did  not  feel  at  liberty  to  come  to  a  decision  on 
your  application  without  the  further  information  required  by  the 
Master  General  and  Hoard  of  Ordnance  respecting  the  effect  which 
the  building  to  be  erected  near  Fort  Townshend  would  have  on 
that  post  an  a  miUtary  station." 

The  perusal  of  tiiis  letter,  my  Lord,  I  confess  proved  to  me  a 
source  of  great  gratification,  because  it  convinced  me  that,  in  the 
consideration  of  my  claim  upon  the  Government,  and  of  the 
Catholic  inhabitants  of  Newfoundland,  the  bickerings  of  party  in 
that  country,  and  the  veiled  slantlers  of  the  enemies  of  every- 
thing liberal  and  charitable,  the  stumbling-blocks  in  the  way  of 
the  imi)rovemeut  of  the  country,  would  be  totally  disregarded ; 
and  your  Lordship's  letter  of  March  2oth  (No.  !))  served  still 
further  to  convince  me  that  you  had  determined  that  your  adminis- 
tration of  tiie  Colonial  Department  should  be  distinguished  by  the 
first  act  of  kindness,  the  first  favor,  ever  bestowed  upon  the 
Catholics  of  Newfoundland  by  the  British  Government. 

It  was  impossible  I  could  entertain  aiiv  doubt  on  the  subject  when 
I  found  that  the  letter  of  the  25th  of  March  concluded  with  these 
emi)hatic  words,  which  I  res[)ectfully  l)eg  leave  to  copy  :  "  Lord 
Glenelg  desires  me  to  state  that,  in  conformity  with  the  decision  of 
the  Master  General  and  Board  of  Ordnance,  the  Governor  of  New- 
foundland will  be  instructed  to  grant  to  you  so  much  of  the  land  in 
question  as  may  be  necessary  for  the  ecclesiastical  buildings  which 
it  is  your  intention  U>  erect." 

I,  of  course,  communicated  the  gratifying  intelligence  to  my 
flock,  of  the  paternal  protection  they  were  sure  to  experience  from 
Her  Majesty's  Government,  as  evinced  by  this  most  consolatory 
though  somewhat  tardy  concession,  and  I  immediately  hastened  to 
Newfoundland  to  make  the  necessary  arrangements  for  erecting, 
as  rapidly  as  possible,  buildings  so  all-important  to  the  Catholics 
of  Newioundhuid. 

I  waited  on  the  Governor  shortly  after  my  arrival.  I  called  liia 
attention  to  this  subject,  or  rather,  indeed,  His  Excellency  even 
anticipated  me.  He  observed  that  I  must  choose  either  a  piece  of 
ground  denominated  the  "  Commandant's  field,"  or  an  unenclosed 


■WN 


mmm 


420 


ECCLESIASTICAL   HISTORY 


piece  to  tlie  north  of  the  fort.  I  remonstrated,  I  explained,  I 
pointed  out  tliat  tiie  Commandant's  field  was  at  a  great  distance 
from  the  town,  that  it  was  cut  off  tovvnward,  by  private  property, 
from  every  possible  approacli,  and  that  if  in  other  respects  de- 
sirable, it  was  quite  insulllcicnt  in  point  of  extent,  inaccessible  in 
winter,  and  inconvenient  from  its  shape,  being  an  irregular  quad- 
rangle, having  two  of  its  angles  extremely  acute.  He  then  poi  ted 
to  the  piece  of  unenclosed  land  before  mentioned  ;  but  I  made  His 
Excellency  admit  that  this  place  was  unfit,  from  its  remoteness  and 
its  marshy  character,  and  that  otherwise,  both  in  its  distance  from 
the  town,  its  backwardness,  and  utter  ineligibilit\-,  as  a  site  for 
public  buildings. 

I  showed  him  that  when  I  undertook  to  build  churches  I  made 
t'";se  churches  in  every  harbor  arise  in  such  beauty  as  to  attract 
the  eye  of  every  visitor,  and  even  to  invite  His  Excellency  iiim- 
self  minutely  to  examine  their  structure  ;  and  that  as  the  contem- 
plated edifices  were  to  be  constructed  of  durable  materials,  I  was 
determined  they  should  not  derogate  from  tiiat  character,  for  the 
promotion  of  the  improvement  and  embellishment  of  the  country 
acquired  by  the  Catholic  priesthood  of  the  Island  through  the 
means  of  personal  sacrifices  unexampled. 

My  Lord,  the  Secretary  of  the  Colony  was  present  during  this 
conversation,  and  both  he  and  the  (lovernor  at  length  concurred 
with  me  that  both  places  mentioned  were  perfectly  unfit  for  the 
purpose  of  raising  edifices  that  ought  to  be  accessible  to  the  public 
at  all  times  and  seasons,  as  well  to  the  child  as  to  the  graiulsire. 
In  fact,  that  they  wore  two  {)laces  upon  which  no  private  gentle- 
man would  engage  to  expend  in  building  the  sum  of  ou'  hundred 
pounds.  And  finally,  my  Lord,  before  I  withdrew,  k'  ,,i  did  the 
Governor  appear  to  coincide  with  me  that  he  assured  me  if  I  put 
my  objections  to  these  places  in  writing  he  would  transmit  them  to 
your  Lordship  with  his  recommendation  to  accede  to  my  prayer 
for  the  only  piece  of  Oidnancc  ground  available  for  my  purpose, 
viz.,  that  which  I  originally  solicited. 

My  Lord,  I  was  not  a  little  surprised,  on  the  nt!xt  day,  to  find 
the  Governor's  orderly  come  to  my  bouse  to  request  I  would 
again  call  upon  the  Governor.  I,  however,  instantly  com- 
plied, when,  what  was  my  astonishment,  upon  Captain  Prescott's 
opening  the  conversation,  at  his  telling  me  that  he  sent  for  me  to 
say  that,  on  rpjledion,  he  could  not  recommend  the  CJovernment  to 
grant  me  the  ground  I  asked  for ;  that  1  must  take  one  or  other 


OF   NEWFOUNDLAND. 


421 


of  the  pieces  he  had  before  offered,  and  make  an  immediate  elec- 
tion. 

Under  those  circumstances,  m}'  Lord,  it  occurred  to  met  o  see 
the  matter  out,  and  I  said  tliat  in  that  case  I  should  make  a  choice, 
wiu!U  His  Excellency  at  once  asked  me  would  I  build  on  the  piece 
I  should  so  choose?  I  replied  that  I  would  not  deceive  him,  that 
r  certainly  would  not  build  on  cither,  but  that  I  would  take  it  that 
instant,  and  try  to  turn  it  to  advantage  for  the  promotion  of  my 
undertaking  ;  but  His  Excellency  ch)sed  by  insisting,  that  if  he  gave 
a  grant  of  the  ground  it  should  contain  a  proviso  (although  he  ad- 
mitted it  was  i)erfectl3'  inadequate  to  the  purposes  intended,  and 
every  way  unfit)  —  a  proviso  that  I  should  expend  thereon  such  a 
sum  annually  on  buildings  as,  in"  a  given  number  of  years,  sliould 
amount  to  the  sinn  of  twenty  thousand  i)()unds  ! 

I  need  not  tell  your  Lordsliip  that  I  declined  the  acceptance  of 
His  Excellency's  terms  ;  I  need  not  say  I  withdrew  upon  this 
declaration,  \wv  need  I  mention  that  hero  closed  all  connnunication 
with  Captain  Prescott  on  the  subject ;  but,  my  Lord,  these  singular 
circumstances  induced  me  again  to  refer  to  your  Lordshii)'s  letters 
of  Feb.  9,  and  particularly  again  to  that  of  March  2"),  and  I  feel 
that  this  latter  could  only  be  construed  as  having  referc  to  the 
ground  mentioned  in  my  memorial,  again  mentioned  in  my  renewal 
thereof,  and  all  along  ke[)t  cli'arly  in  view  in  all  my  connnunica- 
tions  to  your  Lordship,  and  never  departed  from  in  a  single  instance 
b}'  your  Lordship  in  your  replies. 

However,  I  naturally  referred  to  the  letter  of  the  .Secretary  to 
tiie  Ordnance  before  mentioned,  conveying  the  decision  of  the 
Board  on  the  subject  of  my  api)lication,  and  here  for  the  first  time 
I  saw  that  in  reality  your  Lordship  may  possibly  have  intended,  in 
your  letter  of  jNLireh  2."),  to  r"fer  to  the  '•  kifid  in  (incstion"  in  this 
single  letter  of  the  Secretary  to  Ihe  Ordnance,  and  not  at  all  to 
bear  reference  to  tiie  "•  onhj  land''  which  had  ever  l)een  "  in  (jkcs- 
fion"  between  your  Lordslii[)  and  inc  to  that  hour. 

In  this  letter  of  the  Secretary  (see  No.  10),  my  Lord,  tiijre  is  a 
reference  to  Colonel  Walker's  report ;  autl,  certaiidy,  a  more  ex- 
traordinar}'  document  I  never  liefore  perused  as  coming  from  a 
Government  ollicer,  approved  of  by  a  body  so  high  and  so  intelli- 
gent as  the  Board  of  Ordnance,  and  appearing  to  bear  the  sanction 
of  the  Colonial  Otllce,  as  this  rei)ort  of  the  head  of  the  Engineer 
Department  in  Newfoundland.      (See  No.  II.) 

T  am  to  suppose,  my  Lord,  for  I  liave  not  been  favored  witii  a 


L 


I 


422 


ECCLKSIASTICAL  HISTORY 


•id 


Hi 


copy  of  it,  Umt  the  instruction  coiniuunicated  by  Ciiptain  Prescott 
to  Col.  WalivGi',  in  the  first  instance,  must  liave  been  not  to  seek  to 
discover  lands  the  least  valuable  to  the  Government,  the  most 
worthless  to  the  people  ;  not  to  look  out  for  lands  the  least  suitable 
for  the  uses  intended,  the  most  unfit  for  the  erections  required.  I 
am  to  suppose  thnt  his  instructions  were  ho mX  fide  to  report,  as  it 
is  mentioned  in  Mr.  Stephen's  letter  of  August  31,  183(),  "  ivhether 
the  land  for  which  you  have  applied  could,  without  detriment  to  the 
public  service,  be  appropriated  to  the  purposes  contemplated  by 
you,"  —  to  report  whether,  as  it  is  described  in  Sir  George  Grey's 
letter  of  Feb.  9,  1837,  "the  ground  near  F'ort  Townshend, /-»• 
which  1/ou  have  apjdicd,  could  be  conveniently  i):u'ted  with." 

Now  if,  in  reality,  the  instruction  of  the  Governor  to  IJeut. -Col. 
"Walker  were  to  make  his  report  on  tlie  utility  for  Government  pur- 
poses of  the  ground  I  solicited,  surely  then  his  report  is  most 
extraordinary.  I  asked  for  a  certain  patch  of  i)erfectly  waste 
land  to  the  east  of  the  fort.  He  reports  upon  all  the  lands  to  the 
north,  to  the  south,  and  to  the  west,  but  not  one  word  of  the  land 
to  the  eastward.  I  asked  for  particular  ground,  and  it  ai)pears 
that  it  is  the  only  land  in  the  hands  of  Government  on  tiiat 
side  of  the  town  that  would  iuiswer  for  the  purpose,  and  he  reporls 
of  all  other  lands  except  that,  —  and  reports  especially  of  the  two 
patches  Avhich  are.  of  the  whole  lot,  the  most  unfit  for  the  purposes 
for  wliich  it  is  re([uired.  In  fact,  there  is  not  the  most  distant  alhi- 
sion  to  the  ground  he  is  asked  to  re[)ort  on,  while  he  says  every- 
thing about  lands  of  which  no  (piestion  was  offered,  but  modestly 
closes  by  constituting  himself  the  very  best  judge  of  what  would 
be  most  suitable  for  the  Catholic  congregation  of  St.  John's  as  a 
site  for  the  erection  of  a  church,  schools,  etc.,  and  sele(!ts  ground 
for  <iie  purpose  of  the  acconnnodation  of  infant  children  to  which 
their  fathers  could  scarce  reaeii  during  seven  UKJUths  of  the  year, 
and  these,  too,  in  the  onlj'  season  at  which  the  schools  are  full. 

True,  my  Lord,  I  also  spoke  in  my  memorial  of  tlie  cidtivated 
lands  to  the  south-east  of  the  fort,  tliat  is,  l)etween  the  fort  and 
the  town,  which  were  formerly  cultivated  by  the  military,  and 
left  it  optional  with  tlie  Government  to  choose  that  or  the  waste 
piece  adverted  to  so  often  before  ;  and  Captain,  now  Col.  Walker 
does  not  omit  to  make  mention  of  a  portion  of  the  cultivated 
ground  in  his  report,  but  it  appears  to  be  mentioned  only  because 
there  appear  some  plausible  pretexts  connected  with  it,  on  which 
to  ground  a  reconunendation  to  refuse  it  to  the  people.     His  report 


t( 


OF   NEWFOUNDLAND. 


423 


states  that  this  ground  was,  *•'  at  much  hibor  and  expense,  fenced 
and  brought  into  cultivation,  as  gardens,  l)y  the  men  of  tlie  Royal 
Veteran  Companies.  Tiie  want  of  tliese  gardens  would  be  felt  by 
the  men  as  a  very  serious  privation,  besides  the  loss  of  the  interest 
and  occupation  whicii  the  cultivation  of  the  ground  affords,  and 
which  tends  so  greatly  to  their  good  conduct." 

Tiiese  latter  observations,  ni}'  Lord,  would  appear  to  throw 
upon  me  an  imputation  of  being  actuated  by  feelings  of  exceed- 
ing hostility  to  the  gratilication  and  comfort  of  the  men  of  the 
Royal  Veteran  Conri)anies  ;  that  I  must  strongly  repudiate,  for  I 
was  always  of  opinion  that  ngricultural  or  horticultural  persuils 
ougiit  t')  be  strenuously  promoted  amongst  liie  military,  particu- 
larly at  Newfoundland,  wliere  they  have  but  one  station  on  the 
whole  Island,  and  where,  in  that  one,  tlie  duties  are  so  exceedingly 
light  as  to  leave  uuich  leisure  to  the  soldiers,  which  I  think  of  the 
utmost  importance,  in  a  moral  point  of  view,  to  1111  up  ity  some 
recrt'ative  occupation  ;  and  I  assure  you,  that  1  never  saw  tiie 
soldiers  engaged  in  their  gardens  without  being  filled  with  senti- 
ments truly  ])leasiug. 

liut  my  memorial,  your  Lordship  will  rememl)er,  was  preferred 
in  is;')-!,  renewed  in  18;;r»,  and  at  tliat  time  tiie  \'eterans  lunl  been 
deprived  of  these  gardens  by  order  of  tiie  tlien  liead  of  tiie 
Engineer  Dei)artuieut,  iiud  it  was  during  tlie  time  they  were  so 
unoccuiiied  tliat  I  looked  for  their  ai)propriatioii  to  the  purposes 
of  tlie  Catliolics  of  St.  .John's,  for  a  cliurch,  poor  schools,  a  resi- 
dence for  tlie  clergy,  as  also  for  a  cemetery.  Nay,  1  have  every 
reason  to  believe  tliat,  even  at  the  period  at  which  Col.  Walker's 
report  bears  date,  tliat  even  tiieu  tliese  grounds  were  not  ajipnj- 
priated  to  the  uses  of  the  Veterans,  and  1  even  doubt  if  tliey  have 
been  up  to  this  hour,  whereas  the  withdrawal  of  the  troops  to 
Signal  Hill,  a  great  distance  from  the  fort,  must,  of  course, 
show  that  the  gallant  Colonel's  oiijection  is  given  on  mere  spec- 
ulation. 

My  Lord,  I  have  now  undertaken  a  perilous  wintry  voviige 
across  the  Atlantic,  being  my  second  voyage  to  London  for  tlu' 
puriiose  of  urging  theclaimsof  tlie  Catholicsof  that  ill-used  country, 
— and  for  wliat?  for  a  patch  of  ground  that  by  the  report,  tlie 
tardy,  long-delayed,  and  reluctant  report,  of  the  Uoard  of  Ord- 
nance, is  tleclared  unnecessary-  for  not  only  the  "  military,"  but 
for  all  jmrposes  of  the  Government. 

This  report,  my  Lord,  must  be   so  construed,  for  it  is   conse- 


KP 


.:| 


424 


ECCLESIASTICAL  HISTORY 


t  '?! 


quoiit  not  only  upon  tlie  "  niilitjvry "  report  of  the  Officer  of 
En<j;ineers  at  St.  John's,  Juit  also  on  the  civil  report  of  the  Gov- 
ernor ;  and  yet  this  piece  of  groniul,  thus  proved  of  so  little  value 
as  not  to  be  esteemed  by  Col.  Walker  as  worthy  of  notice  in  his 
report,  even  though  he  is  asked  especially  to  report  upon  it,  is  still 
withheld  from  Iler  ^Majesty's  faithful  Catholic  subjects. 

There  is  one  circumstance,  however,  connected  with  this  part  of 
the  subject,  which,  though  trivial  in  itself,  I  must  not  omit  to 
notice  to  your  Lordshii),  and  I  only  do  so  because  it  has  excited 
great  astonishment  among  the  people  of  St.  .John's,  and  because 
it  aiipears  to  me  as  extremely  difficult,  from  its  coincidence 
with  other  concurrent  circumstances,  to  admit  of  a  satisfactory 
explanation. 

If  your  Lordsliip  would  take  the  trouble  to  refer  •(,  my  memorial, 
or  to  my  letter  of  renewal,  you  would  at  once  perceive  that  I  not 
only  mention  that  the  groimd  I  ask  for  is  situated  to  the  east  of 
the  fort,  but  that  also  I  described  it  as  that  piece  of  ground  on 
which  the  "  old  wood-yard  "  of  the  garrison  stood.  No  sooner 
had  the  report  of  Col.  Walker  been  transmitted,  referring,  as  I 
before  had  remarked,  only  to  the  land  lying  west,  north,  and  south 
of  the  fort,  than  orders  were  given,  and  quickly  execuicd  too,  to 
transfer  the  wooden  walls  of  the  "  old  Avood-yard,"  which,  for 
time  iunnemorial,  stood  on  the  eastern  side  of  the  road  which  leads 
into  the  country  north-eastward  of  the  fort,  to  the  side  opposite, 
so  that  now  the  "  site  of  the  wood-yard"  would  be  as  objection- 
able a  place  as  any. 

1  have  already  mentioned  the  conversations  I  had  had  on  two 
consecutive  days  last  autunm  with  Governor  Prescott  on  this 
subject,  his  agreeing  with  me  on  one  day  and  promising  to  use 
his  inlluence  with  your  Lordshi[)  in  favor  of  my  api)lication  for 
that  particular  si)ot  which  formed  the  subject  of  my  memorial ; 
his,  on  the  next  day,  withdrawing  from  his  promised  support,  and 
insisting  on  my  taking  land  that  would  not  answer  the  purjjose  for 
which  I  wanted  ground,  and  which  unfitness  he  at  the  same 
moment  admitted  ;  lait  I  regret  much  that,  instead  of  the  ordinary 
courtesy  of  a  written  answer,  he  gave  no  other  than  a  verb:il  reply. 

My  Lord,  I  had  alrea.^y  been  compelled  to  spend  upon  this 
subject  more  money  than  would  three  times  purchase  the  fee- 
simple  of  the  entire  place,  and  1  entered  upon  that  expenditure 
well  knowing  that  the  ground  1  asked  for  was  intrinsically  value- 
less  as  compared  with  the  expenditure  I   nuist  incur;  but,  my 


1 


OF   NEWFOUNDLAND. 


425 


% 


Lord,  I  have  been  actuated  by  higlier  than  pecuniary  motives,  — 
I  have  ever  been  solicitous  tliat  the  Catliolics  of  that  country 
sliould  at  Icngtii  be  led  to  consider  tliemselves  as  not  under  a 
political  ban  ;  tliat  tiiey  should  not  regard  themselves  as  political 
parias,  cut  oif  from  all  connection  with  the  Government  of  their 
country,  excluded  from  the  participation  of  the  protective  powers 
of  that  Government ;  that  they  siiould  cease  to  esteem  themselves 
only  in  the  relation  of  sufferers  under  severe  task-masters,  and 
not  subjects  of  a  benelicent  moiiarcii ;  in  (ine,  that,  excluded  as 
they  have  been,  and  still  studiously  are,  from  every  otlice  of  honor 
or  emolument  in  that  country,  excluded  as  they  universully  are 
from  the  slightest  countenance  or  consideration  from  tlie  local 
Government,  they  shoidd  at  length  be  made  to  feel,  by  the  ex- 
tension to  them  of  some  mark  of  favor  or  kindness,  that  in  the 
Government  of  England  there  were  individuals  ruling  over  their 
destinies  who,  sccjrning  to  be  swayed  by  motives  of  bigotry  or 
prejudice,  entertained  for  tiiem  tliose  feelings  wiiich  become  the 
great  and  enlightened  statesman. 

My  Lord,  I  have  proved  the  sincerity  of  my  profession  by  the 
great  sacrifices  I  have  made  of  my  own  personal  comforts,  of  my 
health  and  my  income  to  promote  tlie  interests  and  huppinenH  of 
tliat  class  of  Iler  ^Majesty's  subjects  in  Newfoundland.  I  liave 
purchased  many  sites  for  public  churches  in  other  harbors  ;  I  have 
purchased  sites  for  public  charity  schools  ;  and  in  the  town  of  St. 
flolni's  alone  I  have  expended  ui)wards  of  fifteen  hundred  i)ounds 
towards  the  support  of  one  school  within  the  last  live  years  for 
tlie  ciiildren  of  the  poor  of  Newfoundland,  without  distinction 
of  creed  or  country,  on  which  the  Government  never  expended  a 
single  shilling,  and  I  ask,  I'lidei"  such  circumstances  would  it,  or 
could  it,  l)e  for  a  moment  exiiected  that  I  could  lie  induced  to  run 
the  hazard  and  subject  myself  to  the  annoyance  of  voyages  across 
the  Atlantic  which,  liy  the  time  of  my  return  to  Newfoundland 
now,  will  amount  to  nearly  twelve  thousand  miles,  merely  tt)  save 
the  amount  of  the  iiurciiase  of  tliis  piece  of  ground? 

I  now  freeh'  leave  the  matter  in  your  Lordshiii's  hands.  You 
have  all  the  information  liefore  your  Lordship  which  the  Engineer 
and  the  Ordnance  Department  and  the  (iovernor  of  Newfoundland 
can  convey,  and  surely  your  Lordship  may  tiien  estimate  the 
propriety'  of  granting  or  withholding,  not  grounds  I  have  never 
asked  for,  but  the  lands  I  have  been  live  years  soliciting.  I  trust, 
therefore,  that  your  Lordship  will  please  take  these  circumstances 


420 


ECCLESIASTICAL  HISTORY  OF  NEWFOUNDLAND. 


uiider  your  Lordship's  considcriitiou,  luul  tliat,  if  your  Lordship 
Ciiii,  consistently  with  your  duty  to  your  Soverei<i;n  and  the  true 
interests  of  tiie  Government,  you  will  bestow  u[)on  the  Ctitholies 
of  that  country  the  piece  of  ground  I  have  prayed  for,  or  allow 
them  to  purchase  it  at  its  full  value,  which,  under  the  circum- 
stances, will  be  considered  as  great  a  favor  as  a  gift. 

I,  however,  beg  to  mention  to  your  Lordship  before  I  close 
that  I  have  l)een  given  to  understand  that  as  the  barracks  on 
Signal  Hill  are  now  nearly  completed  Fort  William  is  about  to 
be  abandoned,  the  soldiers  being  to  be  withdrawn  to  the  Hill,  and 
the  ground,  etc.,  sold.  I  mention  this,  my  Lord,  to  show  that 
here  is  more  ground  coming  into  the  hands  of  Government  than 
which  a  better  sight  could  not  offer  for  the  purposes  for  which  the 
Governor  desires  the  part  I  sought. 

Earnestly  requesting  your  Lordship  will  favor  me  with  as  early 
a  reply  as  shall  be  consistent  with  your  Lordshi|)'s  convenience, 
I  have  the  honor  to  remain. 
Your  Lordshii)'8  most  obedient,  humble  servant, 

(Signed)  IMICHL.  ANTHONY  FLEMING. 

lliKllt  Hon.    L()UI>    (il.KNKI.C. 


P.S.  —  Your  Lordship  will  find  annexed  to  this  a  copy  of  the 
plan  of  the  Ordnance  ground  which  accompanied  Col.  AValker's 
report  (No.  12),  together  with  a  plan  of  the  same  ground  (No.  KJ), 
exhibiting  somewiiat  more  clearly  the  ground  I  prayed  for  ;  annexed 
to  which  1  also  send  your  Lordship  a  third  plan,  exhibiting  the 
elevation,  whereby  your  Lcrdshii)  may  yourself  be  able  to  form  a 
tolerable  conception  of  the  utter  ineligibility  of  the  grounds 
offered  by  Mr.  Prescott. 

MICHL.  ANTHONY  FLEMING. 


